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Canada welcomes EU proposal to become 'associate member'

284 points · 354 comments · witweb

  1. philippemnoel · · focus · HN ↗
    As a Canadian, I find this unbelievably good news. Canada, the EU, and other middle powers need to unite. Stronger together, while preserving what makes each country unique.
    1. ibic · · focus · HN ↗
      As a non-Canadian, I find this a very good news also. You said it well. What I didn't expect was that things could move at this lightning pace. Well done, EU & Canada!
      1. nolok · · focus · HN ↗
        It's a bit funny saying all the naysaying comments, "this is just a name", "you have an ocean between each other", ...

        Yeah, it's only a name, that name represent a reciprocal want to work closer together and do something. What, how, we will figure it out, the fact that people on both side of the exchange are all for it says so.

        We're not idiots we know there will be hurdle, on one side you have the federal country that managed to convince the french Quebec to stay and on the other you have 27 countries who managed to convince each other to work together, we will figure it out.

        1. tharmas · · focus · HN ↗
          I have a feeling that this "made up name/category" will be a pretext for fast-tracking whatever they want to do with Canada-EU relations without the other members voting on it since the last one they tried to do is 10 years on and still pending.
          1. cayleyh · · focus · HN ↗
            Specifically I think this will be true around defence procurement: Canada was just added as the first non-EU state in the EU SAFE defence agreements, and just did a major booth at the International Defence Industry Exhibition EU defence trade show. They decided to buy new subs from Germany instead of Korea, and have slow-played the new fighter acquisitions and will potentially replace at least some F35 orders with Saab Gripens. And they have a new deal to start manufacturing Ukrainian designed military drones in Canada (partnership with Ukraine announced last week iirc?).

            If getting this status helps simplify process and costs of EU<->Canada military procurement, then it will be a clear win for both sides given the current desire to reduce dependence on US defence providers.

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