Truly a historic moment for Canada and the EU:
In her state of the union address, Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen invites Canada to become an associated member.
This will not mean a full EU ascension of Canada, but most likely a very close collaboration similar to the Norwegian arrangement.
Canada, we love you!
🇪🇺♥️🇨🇦
@randahl it would be very funny if Canada joined the Shenzhen zone
@lunareclipse @randahl "the Shenzhen zone" 😂 😂 😂
@randahl What a great moment in history!
Sep 16, 2026, 11:39 AM@randahl Australia is now “on the same page” as Canada and looking for a deeper EU alliance. The UK Brexiters had a fantasy of its (now) white ex-colonies turning into some sort of AUKNZ trade group, so much for that idea.
@randahl could Canada’s associate membership provide a model for post-Brexit UK to also adopt closer integration with the EU?
@mrdknight
The EU never shut the door to the UK, but if you guys still insist on free movement of goods without free movement of people, I am afraid we won't go very far.
Sep 16, 2026, 5:07 PM@mrdknight @randahl
The difference between what we got now and Norway is basically;
1) Shengen,
2) The Customs Union,
3) EFTA,
4) All the things May took us out of completely unnecessarily, and we can rejoin at any time (like Erasmus).
Or to put it another way: (With the exception of Shengen) All the the things Leave politicians said we could keep before the referendum, and immediately insisted we get rid of after the referendum.
@randahl Like Norway, Canada stands to gain real trade access without full membership friction, free movement of goods and deeper defence collaboration that plugs into European know-how and speeds up development on both sides.
Australia is now openly weighing the same "special relationship" track after watching Canada's move. If this becomes a template rather than a one-off, the EU just found a new way to build alliances outside its usual borders.
@randahl OK, OK, Canada, let's GOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!! I especially love that Carney was beaming and clapping and thrilled to join her on stage. Canada and the EU have clearly been talking about this for a while already.
@randahl This is good
@randahl
Would this mean that Canadians could live in EU countries without the self-imposed restrictions that Brexit created for Brits?
Sep 16, 2026, 6:56 PM@Sanderde @mysturji @randahl
Trying to avoid that is one of the two main reasons why the UK doesn't have a Norway style agreement. I'm not sure if that's what you meant by a starting point, but it will be a basic requirement of forming a free trade agreement of any width (i.e not industry specific) with the EU.
Freedom of movement and work between Canada and the EU might be a starting point in the negotiations which may lead to just visa free entry for tourists and students to begin with.
There’s already a free trade agreement (CETA) but in the ensuing 10 years since it was signed there’s no doubt possibilities to expand it in certain sectors.
@randahl wait, so do we need to obey the act of privacy things?
Sep 16, 2026, 7:10 PM@olkosena
It could quite possibly require an agreement to provide enforcement against companies providing services to EU citizens, that are owned by or located in Canada. But the EU is unlikely to insist it be applied to every site providing services to Canadian residents.
@randahl are they coming to the Eurovision Song Contest next year, like Israel?
@madduci @randahl Canada was indeed invited to participate in next years' Eurovision, but it has nothing to do with the new associated member status.
More info here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurovision_Song_Contest