this post was submitted on 16 Jan 2026
411 points (99.3% liked)

World News

55668 readers
1393 users here now

A community for discussing events around the World

Rules:

Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.


Lemmy World Partners

News !news@lemmy.world

Politics !politics@lemmy.world

World Politics !globalpolitics@lemmy.world


Recommendations

For Firefox users, there is media bias / propaganda / fact check plugin.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/media-bias-fact-check/

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

cross-posted from: https://mander.xyz/post/45605798

Australians love hopping over to Europe [and Europeans over to Australia] for a holiday, but actually moving there isn’t so easy, at least for now.

That could soon change, with the European Union offering to make it easier for Australians to live and work across the bloc as part of a long-awaited trade deal with Canberra, sources familiar with the proposal say.

The plan would make it simpler for Australians to take up work in EU member states without needing to secure employment beforehand, with the same rules applying to Europeans heading to Australia.

Four-year limits have reportedly been floated, along with potential settlement pathways, one European source said.

...

The Albanese Government is weighing the offer, with Australian officials noting it could help fill labour shortages in sectors with comparable training standards, such as construction.

NewsWire reports the initiative was presented as a “sweetener” to bring Canberra over the line on a free-trade agreement.

A majority of EU nations last week backed a trade deal with a five-member bloc in South America, ending 25 years of talks and fuelling optimism that an agreement with Australia could be next.

European insiders said a pact with Canberra now ranks as Brussels’ “top priority,” with one adding it was “the next cab off the rank.”

...

Web archive link

top 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] Ilovethebomb@sh.itjust.works 92 points 3 months ago (6 children)

It would be absolutely hilarious if it ends up being easier to enter the EU via Australia than the UK.

[–] Wizard_Pope@lemmy.world 32 points 3 months ago

Absolutely deserved though.

[–] dave@feddit.uk 7 points 3 months ago

It already is—it’s been much easier for Australians to move freely round Europe for some time. We have friends with dual uk / au passports, and they always use their au docs when travelling in Europe.

[–] hanrahan@slrpnk.net 5 points 3 months ago

Lets hope so, anything bringig the world closer together is a good thing.

load more comments (3 replies)
[–] ChaoticNeutralCzech@feddit.org 73 points 3 months ago (1 children)

We're one step closer to eliminating the challenges faced by people who accidentally flew to Austria or vice versa

[–] amateurcrastinator@lemmy.world 8 points 3 months ago

This is hilarious!

[–] Baggie@lemmy.zip 38 points 3 months ago (3 children)

Please dear God, anything that gets us closer to the EU and away from America

[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 9 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I'm gonna laugh so hard if Canada and Oz join and start using the Eunie

[–] Baggie@lemmy.zip 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I would be surprised but hell I'll take it at this point

[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

let me rephrase if y'all call it the euro i'm gonna make fun of y'all you can do better.

[–] Baggie@lemmy.zip 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Oh like a cultural nickname or something? I mean we'd figure out a few things but I don't think we refer to money that much by name, just the flat numbers. Like we only call them dolleyrdoos because that one Simpsons episode is a cultural icon.

[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

We should get the prime minister of Canada and the prime minister of Oz to put they head together and come up with a perfectly cromulent turn of phrase like chazzwozzer or malungagoolachuck

[–] lemmydividebyzero@reddthat.com 7 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, same...

Unfortunately that you are so far away from the EU, but we like you anyways.

[–] Baggie@lemmy.zip 3 points 3 months ago
[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 4 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Australia is in the inner circles of UKUSA. I doubt the intentions of your government. Then again, EU is more and more pro-citizens-spying too.

[–] AppleTea@lemmy.zip 37 points 3 months ago (1 children)

British exit

brexit

Australian entrance

austrance

[–] uienia@lemmy.world 8 points 3 months ago (1 children)

It is a bit funny that the EU/Australian trade deal is much better than whatever thing the UK/Australia trade deal was.

[–] deHaga@feddit.uk 2 points 3 months ago

How so? Loads of UK legal firms have opened up offices in Australia since

[–] QueenMidna@lemmy.ca 22 points 3 months ago (4 children)

I wish they'd let Canadians do the same that would solve so many problems for me

[–] Heliumfart@sh.itjust.works 4 points 3 months ago

I know, it's a no brainer. And it would have the added benefit of us further decoupling from shithole USA.

[–] samus12345@sh.itjust.works 3 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

If Australians can do it, it's hard to think of reasons why Canadians shouldn't be able to as well.

load more comments (2 replies)
[–] rowinxavier@lemmy.world 19 points 3 months ago (2 children)

If we get enough countries over time and the EU ends up encompassing the whole world it could become the Everybody Union and that would be cool.

[–] Zahille7@lemmy.world 6 points 3 months ago

Idk man, sounds suspiciously close to a New World Order... /s

[–] Wooki@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago

Even a few countries, it drastically devalues other trade currencies.

[–] oppy1984@lemdro.id 15 points 3 months ago (1 children)

That's not a European Union, this is a European Union.

[–] OriginalUsername7@lemmy.world 7 points 3 months ago (1 children)

No it’s not, that’s a spoon.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] Uranhjort@lemmy.world 12 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Huh, with the sheer volume of Aussie bartenders and waiters I've met here in Copenhagen I assumed there was already an open border agreement in place.

Happy to hear they'll be free to bring more great banter from down under.

[–] Michal@programming.dev 7 points 3 months ago (1 children)

They often have families in the UK and are able to get a passport that way. When UK was in EU they could then travel and work in other countries.

[–] stylusmobilus@aussie.zone 2 points 3 months ago

Yeah we go backpacking and do work visas a lot. It’s not just a thing done here, a few of us like to do it as well.

I know a couple of Aussies working in Europe, ones on a travelling or working visa, the other’s mother is European entitling them to dual citizenship.

[–] oxbech@feddit.dk 3 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Even our Queen is from down under! :D

[–] Gsus4@mander.xyz 10 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

First, Eurovision, then free movement/trade...soo...ya gonna join the EU club at some point, no?

[–] lemmydividebyzero@reddthat.com 7 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)
[–] Willows@aussie.zone 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Makes me mad that our previous government ended our deals with France for subs. Would much rather have strong trade ties with the EU over anything related to the USA at all.

Scomo is a disgrace for that.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] Adderbox76@lemmy.ca 6 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I would very much want to see the same for Canada. But Canada would have to first change it's open border policy with the chuckle-fucks to the south. Don't want to give those nut-jobs an easy round-about into the EU. MAGALAND --> CANADA --> EU

[–] Typotyper@sh.itjust.works 3 points 3 months ago

No visa travel with the US isn't the same as no passport. They need their passport to visit and they would be travelling to Europe on it.

[–] Coleslaw4145@lemmy.world 6 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

They need to clear it with the prime minister first.

[Opens Window]

"Oi!! Mista Prioome Minista!!"

[–] samus12345@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 months ago
[–] Stupidmanager@lemmy.world 5 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

If anyone wants to come claim the USA as part of this, the key is under the rock to get in. We will need help removing the current and unwanted occupants, but a large number of us would gladly accept open trade and work with the EU.

  • also, it seems that some idiot landing in a boat some 250 years ago and claiming the land, doesn’t really matter. So, remove the pests and claim it as new Europe.
[–] jaxxed@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Great!?! Don't the Europeans know how many ski-resort jobs will be taken away by immigrants now? (Massive /s)

[–] zaphod@sopuli.xyz 4 points 3 months ago

Austrian, Australian, who gives a fuck, it's all the same.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] popcorp@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 3 months ago

Mozart would be proud.

[–] phutatorius@lemmy.zip 1 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

And Brits still don't enjoy freedom of movement because of the imbecilic act of self-harm that was Brexit.

load more comments
view more: next ›