Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson joked there may be a place for Canada in the European Union to join “like-minded” nations as “the most Nordic country in the world outside the Nordics.”

“European Union is obviously a matter of geography, you can hear that from the name,” Kristersson told CTV Question Period host Vassy Kapelos when asked for his opinion on comments by other world leaders that Canada should join the EU.

“But it is also a matter of values, and a matter of what countries would you like to integrate together with in different aspects,” he added, laughing. “So, it’s not for me to say, but the European Union is a very welcoming club for (the) like-minded.”

Finnish President Alexander Stubb made headlines last month when he commented on the possibility of Canada joining the EU. Asked by Kapelos about those comments during an interview on CTV Question Period at the time, Stubb said he wasn’t the one who raised the idea, but that he hopes Canada and the EU can “be as close as possible.”

“I would embrace you, because I think you guys are great, and you would slot into the system like nothing before,” Stubb said of the hypothetical scenario.

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[–] panda_abyss@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 day ago (2 children)

I just don’t want anyone “joking” about us joining them.

I’d be happy if we joined the EU trade block, though I would like some exemptions from some EU law like the UK has before their temper tantrum (e.g. I like the loonie, I want to see it thrive, I don’t know that using the Euro would help us or our central bank).

[–] Scotty@scribe.disroot.org 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I guess this joke was meant to be positive and welcoming, there's no bad faith imo.

The euro isn't a precondition for the EU membership, but I personally think a common currency is a huge advantage. And Canada would likely qualify soon imho.

[–] panda_abyss@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I mean, I get it, just the whole “Twump was joking about his threats” shit has pissed me off beyond measure.

I still don’t see the Euro as being good for Canada.

We have very different reasons for currency fluctuation, so I think it puts Canadian markets in an awkward spot that just isn’t relevant like it is for the other EU members.

[–] Scotty@scribe.disroot.org 2 points 1 day ago (2 children)

A common currency would support cross-country investments and trade as it would limit costs and risk for companies.

[–] panda_abyss@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

But I don’t think it does limit risk, it only limits it for EU trade.

If Germany’s central bank does something and the Euro goes up, Canadian export markets become less competitive.

But really, is that good for Canada? I feel like the more local you can get the better on this type of thing.

[–] Scotty@scribe.disroot.org -1 points 1 day ago

Canada's central bank (as much as Germany's and all the others') would have a seat on the table at the European Central Bank. Canada would be part of the decision making process as all others. If you have partners that play by the rule of law (and I guess we can agree that European states are among these partners), it is a win for everyone imo.

[–] Reannlegge@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 day ago

I do agree with this and I would love to remove the royal family from our money but I do like the themes the mint comes out with every so often for the coins and the bills. With the removal of the Canadian dollar we cannot have those themes anymore, which would make me sad!

I am more of a fan of a CANZUK (Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK) currency sure we would keep the royals on our currency but I am sure there would be more freedom to make themes seeing as how it would be a smaller block. Maybe we could through Japan and South Korea in there to remove the royals and still keep the themes? Or maybe we could just agree on coin shapes and bill colours and each country could do their own themes!

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 22 hours ago)

We could just put animals on the nation-specific side of Euro coins. They even look pretty similar overall.

The fiscal thing is still a big unresolved issue, though. They browbeat Greece into doing austerity, but didn't really prevent another Greece from happening in any way.