Yeah, I don’t think the EU would be able to provide serious military assistance if there was ever a war between Canada and the US. But that’s no different from Canada’s position in the British Commonwealth. Canada would join with the implicit understanding that the EU security guarantees would be largely symbolic. Canada joining the EU would all be about the common customs union, the free movement of people, etc. In this context, geography is less important than having countries with similar political systems and development levels. It’s hard to see really poor countries being admitted to the EU, as that would cause a flood of immigration. And of course there are standards in regards to democratic systems, civil rights, etc. But Canada should have no problem meeting those requirements. And Canada would fit well within the range of EU countries in terms of GDP per capita. There wouldn’t be some vast exodus of Canadians moving to the mainland Europe if Canada was admitted to the EU.
Yeah, I don’t think the EU would be able to provide serious military assistance if there was ever a war between Canada and the US. But that’s no different from Canada’s position in the British Commonwealth. Canada would join with the implicit understanding that the EU security guarantees would be largely symbolic. Canada joining the EU would all be about the common customs union, the free movement of people, etc. In this context, geography is less important than having countries with similar political systems and development levels. It’s hard to see really poor countries being admitted to the EU, as that would cause a flood of immigration. And of course there are standards in regards to democratic systems, civil rights, etc. But Canada should have no problem meeting those requirements. And Canada would fit well within the range of EU countries in terms of GDP per capita. There wouldn’t be some vast exodus of Canadians moving to the mainland Europe if Canada was admitted to the EU.