this post was submitted on 01 Jul 2025
497 points (97.5% liked)

Buy European

6418 readers
736 users here now

Overview:

The community to discuss buying European goods and services.


Matrix Chat of this community


Rules:

  • Be kind to each other, and argue in good faith. No direct insults nor disrespectful and condescending comments.

  • Do not use this community to promote Nationalism/Euronationalism. This community is for discussing European products/services and news related to that. For other topics the following might be of interest:

  • Include a disclaimer at the bottom of the post if you're affiliated with the recommendation.

  • No russian suggestions.

Feddit.uk's instance rules apply:

  • No racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia or xenophobia
  • No incitement of violence or promotion of violent ideologies
  • No harassment, dogpiling or doxxing of other users
  • Do not share intentionally false or misleading information
  • Do not spam or abuse network features.
  • Alt accounts are permitted, but all accounts must list each other in their bios.
  • No generative AI content

Useful Websites

Benefits of Buying Local:

local investment, job creation, innovation, increased competition, more redundancy.

European Instances

Lemmy:

Friendica:

Matrix:


Related Communities:

Buy Local:

Continents:

European:

Buying and Selling:

Boycott:

Countries:

Companies:

Stop Publisher Kill Switch in Games Practice:


Banner credits: BYTEAlliance


founded 5 months ago
MODERATORS
 

Avoid Paywall

In the Abacus poll, 46 per cent of respondents said they would support Canada becoming a member state of the EU, and 44 per cent said the Canadian government should definitely or probably look into joining it.

top 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[โ€“] Sunshine@lemmy.ca 62 points 2 days ago (5 children)

I mean if Cyprus and French Guiana can join so can Canada if we can meet the requirements. Itโ€™s a political alliance of values.

[โ€“] DmMacniel@feddit.org 32 points 2 days ago (2 children)

But then we would share two borders with the USA :/

[โ€“] Libb@piefed.social 12 points 2 days ago

That would be the first step in claiming back what once was ours ;)

[โ€“] Sunshine@lemmy.ca 7 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (5 children)

The European Union could help safeguard those borders.

load more comments (5 replies)
[โ€“] ViatorOmnium@piefed.social 26 points 2 days ago (3 children)

French Guiana is only part of the EU because it's part of France, and even then it needs plenty of exceptions to make it work.

Cyprus was already aligned with the rest of Europe in economic laws.

Canada would need to redo half of its laws to join the EU, and Canadian companies would either need to produce two versions of everything or drop the US market altogether.

It's more realistic to aim for a close bilateral treaty than for membership, at least for next few decades.

[โ€“] LwL@lemmy.world 6 points 2 days ago

Yeah, these opinion polls really should be more taken as a desire to move closer (as the article says). I doubt the people voting actually know everything that joining the EU would entail, but it's still valid as a general "getting closer to the EU".

Yeah, but it's a nice dream.

load more comments (1 replies)
[โ€“] omgitsaheadcrab@sh.itjust.works 14 points 2 days ago (2 children)

How is Cyprus controversial as an EU member? Because it's far enough to technically be Asia? Still very much European values, language, history etc. It's also only a stone's throw away from the nearest Greek island

[โ€“] lnxtx@feddit.nl 12 points 2 days ago (1 children)
  • Tax heaven (together with Ireland)
  • Part of the island occupied by Turkiye
[โ€“] omgitsaheadcrab@sh.itjust.works 8 points 2 days ago (1 children)

And Malta, Luxembourg, Monaco, Andorra, Jersey... Etc. Basically any small nation

load more comments (1 replies)
[โ€“] Sunshine@lemmy.ca 6 points 2 days ago

Some people claim that โ€œa country cannot join if theyโ€™re outside the continentโ€

[โ€“] AI_toothbrush@lemmy.zip 7 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

I mean french guiana is literally a part of france. Its an overseas territory so its handled as an island or whatever not a colony. The most disgusting thing isnt that canada is in north america but that the eu would need to border the usa...

[โ€“] Sunshine@lemmy.ca 6 points 2 days ago

I mean poor Norway, Finland, Poland and The Baltics already have to deal with Russia.

load more comments (1 replies)
load more comments (1 replies)
[โ€“] Archangel1313@lemmy.ca 41 points 2 days ago (3 children)

I love these "nearly half" declarations of support the media likes to gin up.

So..."less than half", then?

[โ€“] seejur@lemmy.world 23 points 2 days ago (1 children)

It's more about the trend. Last year almost no one thought it would be a good idea. So the implications is "shortly more than half might want to join the EU" or "Canadians are approaching the majority threshold"

load more comments (1 replies)
[โ€“] mle86@feddit.org 12 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

It's also a bit useless to just give the one number and not the complete results.

This could mean 46% in favor, 15% neutral / undecided, 39% against, which would put the overall sentiment in favor of joining, or it could be 46% in favor, 54% against, which is a completely different situation.


edit


Just re-read the article, I have missed the numbers, sorry.

So it's 46% pro, 29% against, which puts the sentiment clearly to pro....

[โ€“] Rich_Benzina@feddit.it 6 points 2 days ago

Well, you are not wrong. But if you think about it it's still a pretty significant percentage considering Canada is one ocean distant from Europe, and has always had historically relations, economically and politically with the USA, obviously given the fact they share their only border with them. So in my opinion the number gets more weight, maybe. Probably some years ago it was much lower, or they didnt asked themselves the question at all.

[โ€“] rustyfish@lemmy.world 21 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I welcome the Canadians into the European Union!

Is what I would say, but I really, really, REALLY donโ€™t want a border with the US. Russia alone is bad enough.

[โ€“] samus12345@sh.itjust.works 13 points 2 days ago

The US already has military installations all over Europe. It wouldn't change much.

[โ€“] SabinStargem@lemmy.today 16 points 2 days ago

As an American, I endorse the idea. It would make it harder for Canada to be attacked, or worse, destroyed by Dogey America. Plus, it would allow the Free States of America to have a potential ally or trading party, better means for non-coms to flee from the conflict, and so forth.

It also works out for Canada, since that means having stronger trade connections with Europe. Considering that Dogey America is going to be an annoying prick and no longer a viable partner, having a solid trade network would help keep Canada prosperous.

[โ€“] EverXIII@lemmy.world 15 points 2 days ago

I believe it will be a positive alliance for both Canada and the EU. Canadians are welcome!

[โ€“] FreakinSteve@lemmy.world 13 points 1 day ago (1 children)

....and the other half are Quebecois

load more comments (1 replies)
[โ€“] orbitz@lemmy.ca 13 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Okay not a direct comparison but if I was playing a Paradox grand strategy game and the neighbor country started getting all fascist / authoritarian, I would want to group with like minded nations for protection. Hey we're already in a defense treaty with them why not make it a more inclusive type agreement? Personally I always felt culturally closer to the UK (yes I know not there anymore) than the US and thought many of our policies mirrored the US due to location and held us back.

load more comments (2 replies)
[โ€“] cupcakezealot@piefed.blahaj.zone 13 points 2 days ago (1 children)

honestly anything but being close to the us. it's bad enough they share a border.

load more comments (1 replies)
[โ€“] Libb@piefed.social 12 points 2 days ago

As a EU/French I vehemently oppose that idea unless we get to see the Canadian mounted police to parade here on the Champs Elysรฉe, this next 14th July :p

[โ€“] rbos@lemmy.ca 12 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Let's start with Schengen zone membership and see how we feel after that. The currency would be a hard sell.

[โ€“] Venus_Ziegenfalle@feddit.org 15 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Maybe an EU adjacent status like Norway would be sufficient. But yeah, probably best to just wait and see. I'd appreciate closer cultural ties too. More sustainable basis for a long-term partnership than just business stuff.

[โ€“] chonglibloodsport@lemmy.world 7 points 2 days ago (3 children)

The UK was previously a member of the EU without ever having adopted the Euro.

[โ€“] Pringles@sopuli.xyz 10 points 2 days ago

True, but all new members sign an agreement that they will eventually join the eurozone. It's not enforced and there is no pressure to do so, but on paper they agree to it.

load more comments (2 replies)
[โ€“] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Step 1: Be USAmerican, non rabid Trump sycophant/cult member variant.

Step 2: Attempt to gain legal residency in Canada

Step 3: ยฟ?ยฟ??ยฟยฟ??ยฟ?

Step 4: I am now European.

[โ€“] SabinStargem@lemmy.today 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I would like the option. Being an American citizen is now like not unlike a soiled piece of toilet paper: Unpleasant and not worth keeping. After all, Project 2025's backers don't give a damn about citizenship or American society.

[โ€“] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (4 children)

Ok here's the plan:

Move to Minnesota.

Canada joins the EU.

Minnesota joins Canada.

Probably not likely to happen or work, but uh... fucking who knows these days.

load more comments (4 replies)
[โ€“] Gammelfisch@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago

Go for it Canada and the EU should send an invitation. Perhaps they should start with EEC membership and later receive full membership. MAGA would shit and f-them.

[โ€“] ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca 8 points 1 day ago

Itโ€™s been a movement here for over a decade now, surprised support is so low

[โ€“] atro_city@fedia.io 6 points 2 days ago (9 children)

I appreciate the thought and the vote of confidence. Unity against the US would be nice. But, I'm afraid of the US influence in Canada. It's bad enough in the EU, but Canada probably is worse.

My conditions in order of importance, if I had any power at all, would be (and maybe Canada already has these):

  • no "winner takes all" or first past the post anywhere - single transferable vote or ranked choice voting
  • separation of church and state
  • wealth tax aka "tax wealth, not work", it'll pay for a bunch of the below
  • free public education
  • universal healthcare without stupid deductibles
  • the ability to live without a car in any place with more than 5k people i.e public transport FTW, high speed trains, buses, metros and trams, fuck cars
  • opensource in all public services
  • no deals with the US defence industry (although the EU council just made idiotic concessions)
  • house the homeless
  • state funded TV

Those are off the top of my head. Given more time, I'd probably come up with more, but I think those are the basic things I'd care about.

Edit: Yes, I'm aware most EU members don't have this, but Canada could be a lighthouse, guiding the rest of the members. It would probably see a huge influx of Europeans if those things were to be implemented.

[โ€“] No_Money_Just_Change@feddit.org 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

So most countries should be thrown out of the eu as we don't fulfill these?

load more comments (1 replies)
[โ€“] moistclump@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago

Canada is well on our way. Lots of support for proportional representation voting, separation of church and state yes (Canada is much less religious than the states except maybe Alberta), ways of taxing the wealthy through capital gains tax etc, education so free up until university and then tuition is lower for Canadians and federal student loans are at 0% lending, universal health care no dedications already in place. I think Europe might not understand how vast and far Canada is so public transportation can be really challenging but yes cityโ€™s have ok public transportation and better would be great. I donโ€™t know about opensource or defence contracts so I wonโ€™t speak to those. Better housing options for homeless would be great. And we have state funded TV, CBC which weโ€™re very proud of!

load more comments (7 replies)

I for once welcome our Canadian friends wholeheartedly!

[โ€“] Jaberw0cky@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Just a step on the inevitable road to one world polity. We should really be working out a roadmap to a world where everyone is a citizen of a worldstate with freedom to move, travel and trade freely regardless of where they were born. Basic rights should be protected everywhere by global enforcement, Borders should be administrative niceties and people should be free to migrate to areas which reflect their social and religious preferences in a global freemarket of societies where the most beneficial policies result in people voting with their feet.

load more comments (1 replies)
[โ€“] huppakee@feddit.nl 4 points 2 days ago (4 children)

If Canada joins EU that would make it the union less a European union, not saying I would mind that but we're gonna need a better name. Maybe invite Australia & New Zealand as well. Need to be quick though, before UK snatches them up.

Hear me out, wild plan: why not free the russians & add that as well.

[โ€“] cupcakezealot@piefed.blahaj.zone 8 points 2 days ago (1 children)

canada should replace israel in the european broadcasting union instead

load more comments (1 replies)
[โ€“] Aqarius@lemmy.world 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Would be funny to drag in all of the commonwealth except the UK

load more comments (1 replies)
[โ€“] lnxtx@feddit.nl 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[โ€“] Greddan@feddit.org 8 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Sure, but so is the cultist nation of Israel for some stupid reason.

load more comments (1 replies)
load more comments (1 replies)
load more comments
view more: next โ€บ