Should NZ join the EU?

Simon Bridges writes:

This came to mind recently when EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen got cosy with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at her 2026 state of the union address over Canada becoming an “associate member” of the European Union. If it’s good enough for them, why not us Kiwis?

Von der Leyen said she wanted to work with Carney “on opening the door for Canada to be the first associate member of the EU”. Carney is keen too, with officials saying both sides want the closest possible relationship short of full membership. …

European Parliament president Roberta Metsola later confirmed that, after Canada, Australia and New Zealand could also become associate members. Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has left the door open, echoing Carney’s call for middle powers to build coalitions in a UN General Assembly speech days ago.

A few years ago, the idea of NZ becoming a (associate) member of the EU would have filled me with horror. It would mean losing our ability to set our own laws, regulations and trade agreements. The reasons the UK left the EU are also good reasons for us not to join it.

But the world has changed. We are in a new era of might is right instead of a rules based order. Earlier this year I advocated NZ becoming the seventh state of Australia, as a way for us to survive in this new world order.

An alternative to merging with Australia could be to join the EU as an Associate Member (NB there is no such thing at the moment – it would have to be defined and created). If Associate Membership included free trade of goods and services, and free movement of citizens (not residents), then those benefits could well outweigh the loss of sovereignty involved in joining the EU.

I’d love to see a future focused debate on how NZ survives and even prospers in this new might is right era. Is it through Australia, is it through the EU, or is it some other alternative? The only thing I am sure of is that the status quo is a very unhealthy position for New Zealand to be in.