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The rejection was expected. The EU and its associated organizations are only open to countries on the European continent by their current rules. Canada would ha

The rejection was expected. The EU and its associated organizations are only open to countries on the European continent by their current rules. Canada would have to broker a hell of a deal to get even partially in. EFTA membership might be a possible goal.

alephnerd 2y ago
> only open to countries on the European continent Cyprus would like to have a word. As well as potentially Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan.
- PaulDavisThe1st 2y ago
  Re: Cyprus, the rule may be being on the same tectonic plate, which AFAICT, Cyprus is (the Eurasian plate).
  - sach1 2y ago
    Canada directly borders France (St. Pierre et Miquelon) so if we ignore dragging in the geologists, that's as good an argument as any.
    - selimthegrim 2y ago
      Canada also directly borders Denmark via Greenland on Hans Island.
      - deleted 2y ago
        [deleted]
      - ncruces 2y ago
        Neither Greenland nor St. Pierre et Miquelon are part of the EU (they are “Overseas Countries and Territories”).
    - PaulDavisThe1st 2y ago
      So that would also include Dominica, which is also directly bordering France (Martinique). The French and their globally disconnected departments ...
      - ncruces 2y ago
        Martinique is an “Outermost Region” (and so, part of the EU) unlike St. Pierre et Miquelon which is one of the “Overseas Countries and Territories” (not part of the EU).
      - vitus 2y ago
        Are we also considering Brazil for EU membership, then, as the country with the longest land border with France? (French Guiana is governed by EU regulations, after all...)
  - input_sh 2y ago
    There aren't any rules. Or to be a bit more precise, the rule says any "European state" can join, but there are no set-in-stone definitions of what that actually means. People here are mentioning Morocco as the example of a country rejected for not being European, but that's not quite accurate: Morocco got rejected from the European Communities in 1987, six years the Maastricht Treaty officially established the EU. Maastricht Treaty specifically put the European Commission in charge of figuring out which countries are considered to be "European", but as far as I know, they never said no to anyone. They did say yes to Cyprus, Georgia and Armenia.
- gmueckl 2y ago
  I guess that one can find a political definition of Europe that is lax enough to justify inclusion of these countries if so motivated. Turkey is formally in (suspended) membership negotiations and a major discussion point was that most of its land area is not on the European continent. Redefining Europe to include Canada would be outright ridiculous. The Union would have to redefine its own identity if it wanted to admit Canada.
  - jopsen 2y ago
    > Turkey is formally in (suspended) membership negotiations and a major discussion point was that most of its land area is not on the European continent. Would the that be a discussion point if Turkey had a well functioning democracy? Solid economics? Didn't have the death penalty? Found some sort of resolution to conflicts on its borders?
    - kamikazeturtles 2y ago
      > Turkey had a well functioning democracy Turkey has a functioning democracy it's just that most of the population loves populist rhetoric. Erdogan's party lost mayoral elections in all the major cities. > Solid economics Turkey had a GDP PPP of $3.45 trillion in 2024 (12th in the world) > Didn't have the death penalty Turkey doesn't have the death penalty. > Found some sort of resolution to conflicts on its borders The conflict in Syria is resolved in Turkey's favor. The potential conflict with Greece is a different issue though. I don't think Turkey's EU application being in limbo is because of whatever excuse EU politicians can conjure up at any moment in time. It's because Turkey, if accepted into the EU, would be the most populous country, the biggest country by landmass, the most powerful country militarily, and the youngest country in the EU. Turkish agriculture and manufacturing would be a lot more competitive compared to EU products.
      - int_19h 2y ago
        > The conflict in Syria is resolved in Turkey's favor. Is it? The SDF is still there, and was always one of the biggest reasons why Turkey got involved. Now, that one, Turkey might still resolve yet... but if it does, that will likely come in form of another genocide. Which would hardly improve its chances of getting acceptance.
twobitshifter 2y ago
Canada is still under the British Monarch, Charles as King of Canada. Not saying that would work but it might be one avenue. It’s also good reason that Canada joining the US would be very hard as things stand.
- wavemode 2y ago
  > Canada is still under the British Monarch This fact probably counts -against- the argument that they deserve to be in the EU...
- int_19h 2y ago
  In Canada, the titles he has in his other realms are irrelevant, though - the only Crown in Canada is that of Canada (well, and the provincial crowns in each of the provinces).

alephnerd 2y ago

> only open to countries on the European continent Cyprus would like to have a word. As well as potentially Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan.

PaulDavisThe1st 2y ago
Re: Cyprus, the rule may be being on the same tectonic plate, which AFAICT, Cyprus is (the Eurasian plate).
- sach1 2y ago
  Canada directly borders France (St. Pierre et Miquelon) so if we ignore dragging in the geologists, that's as good an argument as any.
  - selimthegrim 2y ago
    Canada also directly borders Denmark via Greenland on Hans Island.
    - deleted 2y ago
      [deleted]
    - ncruces 2y ago
      Neither Greenland nor St. Pierre et Miquelon are part of the EU (they are “Overseas Countries and Territories”).
  - PaulDavisThe1st 2y ago
    So that would also include Dominica, which is also directly bordering France (Martinique). The French and their globally disconnected departments ...
    - ncruces 2y ago
      Martinique is an “Outermost Region” (and so, part of the EU) unlike St. Pierre et Miquelon which is one of the “Overseas Countries and Territories” (not part of the EU).
    - vitus 2y ago
      Are we also considering Brazil for EU membership, then, as the country with the longest land border with France? (French Guiana is governed by EU regulations, after all...)
- input_sh 2y ago
  There aren't any rules. Or to be a bit more precise, the rule says any "European state" can join, but there are no set-in-stone definitions of what that actually means. People here are mentioning Morocco as the example of a country rejected for not being European, but that's not quite accurate: Morocco got rejected from the European Communities in 1987, six years the Maastricht Treaty officially established the EU. Maastricht Treaty specifically put the European Commission in charge of figuring out which countries are considered to be "European", but as far as I know, they never said no to anyone. They did say yes to Cyprus, Georgia and Armenia.
gmueckl 2y ago
I guess that one can find a political definition of Europe that is lax enough to justify inclusion of these countries if so motivated. Turkey is formally in (suspended) membership negotiations and a major discussion point was that most of its land area is not on the European continent. Redefining Europe to include Canada would be outright ridiculous. The Union would have to redefine its own identity if it wanted to admit Canada.
- jopsen 2y ago
  > Turkey is formally in (suspended) membership negotiations and a major discussion point was that most of its land area is not on the European continent. Would the that be a discussion point if Turkey had a well functioning democracy? Solid economics? Didn't have the death penalty? Found some sort of resolution to conflicts on its borders?
  - kamikazeturtles 2y ago
    > Turkey had a well functioning democracy Turkey has a functioning democracy it's just that most of the population loves populist rhetoric. Erdogan's party lost mayoral elections in all the major cities. > Solid economics Turkey had a GDP PPP of $3.45 trillion in 2024 (12th in the world) > Didn't have the death penalty Turkey doesn't have the death penalty. > Found some sort of resolution to conflicts on its borders The conflict in Syria is resolved in Turkey's favor. The potential conflict with Greece is a different issue though. I don't think Turkey's EU application being in limbo is because of whatever excuse EU politicians can conjure up at any moment in time. It's because Turkey, if accepted into the EU, would be the most populous country, the biggest country by landmass, the most powerful country militarily, and the youngest country in the EU. Turkish agriculture and manufacturing would be a lot more competitive compared to EU products.
    - int_19h 2y ago
      > The conflict in Syria is resolved in Turkey's favor. Is it? The SDF is still there, and was always one of the biggest reasons why Turkey got involved. Now, that one, Turkey might still resolve yet... but if it does, that will likely come in form of another genocide. Which would hardly improve its chances of getting acceptance.

twobitshifter 2y ago

Canada is still under the British Monarch, Charles as King of Canada. Not saying that would work but it might be one avenue. It’s also good reason that Canada joining the US would be very hard as things stand.

wavemode 2y ago
> Canada is still under the British Monarch This fact probably counts -against- the argument that they deserve to be in the EU...
int_19h 2y ago
In Canada, the titles he has in his other realms are irrelevant, though - the only Crown in Canada is that of Canada (well, and the provincial crowns in each of the provinces).