To put "(future EU member)" on Canada but nothing on Turkey, who despite negotiations currently being frozen still are a member of both the EUCU and the CoE, is definitely a choice.
I'm not a fan of Erdogan and personally do not think that Turkey, nor Canada for that matter, should ever become EU members. However, given the point of the group does it seem pointless to make political statements that are completely off topic. Turkey is closer, not just geographically, to the EU than what Canada is; whether we like it or not.
As a Canadian it warms my heart to see the “future EU members” label but most days, when i am done with my morning coffee, i like things presented under a more realistic perspective.
EU should aim for a strong core with countries of “special interest” having partial membership benefits and treatment. GB, Canada, Ukraine, Turkey, Hungary(yes i know!) should all have this special interest status with a measure of integration and a measure of autonomy. Eventually add Australia if it makes mutual sense. Currently Canada can’t lower it standards to US regulations “void” and we will benefit from increased mobility of goods and people : with EU : we should set most regulation close enough to EU rules to be welcomed there. Build further affinity from increased commercial and military integration. Keep our own monetary policy: devaluation of our currency is a needed buffer sometimes.
I agree.
While I hope Hungary will change path after next year's election and that both UK and Ukraine will be members within my lifetime (I'm still young, so there is hopefully time left) so do I agree with the main point. There should be a lot of opportunities to get closer and cooperate with countries outside of the EU, without membership, and Canada is already one of the closest countries to the EU and I want the EU and Canada to get as close as makes sense (and I'm certain there are many areas, including those you list, on which it makes sense to get closer).
In short, geography. The EU is more than just an economic union and is just growing tighter. Hence, were Canada an EU member would they need to fund projects that they would have limited benefit from and follow rules that do not make sense to them. Meanwhile the EU would more than double its external border, which would make smuggling even easier, and with limited benefits as the real hindrance to trade is the distance. The only solution would be to give Canada so many exceptions that they would barely even be members.
I'm fully for trade deals and cooperation on areas of common interest. But a full membership would not benefit either side.
I doubt the European Georgia is the one producing pecans. I can only speak for the state of Georgia, but pecans are a huge industry there. So I'd be willing to bet product of georgia = USA