Sunday, July 02, 2006

from the "Canada in the EU" dept.

I've often thought that it would be a wonderful thing if Canada were to join the EU. Imagine being able to work and live here or anywhere from Ireland to Estonia.

Timothy Garton Ash thinks it's a good idea too -- except for that pesky thing called geography.

"In fact, why doesn't the European Union invite Canada to join at once? In most respects it would be a much easier fit than Ukraine, let alone Turkey. It effortlessly meets the EU's so-called Copenhagen criteria for membership, including democratic government, the rule of law, a well-regulated market economy and respect for minority rights (Canada's a world-leader on that). Canada is rich, so would be a much-needed net contributor to the European budget at a time when the EU has been taking in lots of poorer states. One of Europe's besetting weaknesses is disagreement between the British and the French, but on this the two historic rivals would instantly agree. English-speaking Canada would strengthen the Anglophone group in the EU, Quebec the Francophone."

Read the full article in The Guardian.

Cheers!

No comments: