> no payments into each others budget.

> Tighter integration than UK, not as tight as Norway/Switzerland/Iceland.

This will not work as Norway and Switzerland pay. I am unsure about the UK whether they pay or not, but anything else would be unfair to Norway and Switzerland.

> Common defense was already agreed anyhow.

Where and how? Surely not via the EU because the EU has no power over that. See how Austria is part of the EU but militarily neutral.

> I can tell you this enjoys broad support in the EU public. Although, no joke, a lot of peoples first reaction is: "They need to compete in Eurovision first. Otherwise they should wait for Australia to join first."

Canada is much more appreciated than the USA here, but you need to look at all fine details. Right now it seems to me that e. g. Carney, and Leyen, use this more as promo-tour. Nothing against Canada moving closer to the EU, mind you, but this here seems a lot more show-value centered than "show us the details". Because what are the exact details here? I am all in favour of countries cooperating more now that the USA has gone fully rogue, but politicians love show and entertainment.

Eurovision is also stupid. Why is Israel part of it? That makes zero sense, even way aside from what war criminal Netanyahu is doing - it's not a european country. Something is wrong with the word EU. It constantly seeks to expand. So that is now a misnomer.

Israel's public broadcaster is a long time member of the European Broadcasting Union, which has nothing to do with EU, and honestly not all that much to do with Europe either. EBU organizes Eurovision. Why Israel's public broadcaster wanted to be part of EBU I don't know, cultural identification with Europe I guess? You'd have to ask them.

But either way that's not the scandal. The scandal is that Russia's broadcaster got kicked out for Russia doing bad things (fair enough) but Israel's was kept in despite their government doing even worse things.

> Eurovision is also stupid. Why is Israel part of it? That makes zero sense, even way aside from what war criminal Netanyahu is doing - it's not a european country. Something is wrong with the word EU. It constantly seeks to expand. So that is now a misnomer.

Eligibility to compete is not based on country, but my membership to the European Braodcasting Union of which Israel is a member, and Australian SBS is an associate member and was allowed to compete as a special case.

Don't bring Eurovision into it. Learn to lighten up and have some fun instead.

UK does not pay.

The EU is likely to develop a military at some point and has some defence cooperation. if you do not trust the US, that means you cannot rely on NATO, which means you need some alternative.

> Right now it seems to me that e. g. Carney, and Leyen, use this more as promo-tour.

I agree. It might be meant as a threat to influence US policy.

> > Common defense was already agreed anyhow.

> Where and how?

NATO presumably

>Why is Israel part of it?

To see people like you seeth.