@FlyingCatGirl ,
‘It doesnt matter what your opinion is on why these countries are joining, they are joining and thus gammons are alone in their view of the EU being bad abs failing, it isn't is it!’
Gammons?! I hope that racist sexist word is an autocorrect?!
The countries that are joining are universally quite poor and, of course, the EU will hugely benefit them:
The European Union average GDP per capita in purchasing power standards (PPS) stands at approximately €41,600. Countries seeking to join the EU (candidate countries) currently trail significantly behind this benchmark, typically operating at a fraction of the bloc's average. 1, 2]
📈 Candidate Countries vs. EU Average
According to recent data compiled by Eurostat and Euronews, candidate economies measure as follows in PPS relative to the EU average (=100):
- 🇹🇷 Türkiye: ~72% of the EU average
- 🇲🇪 Montenegro: ~53% of the EU average
- 🇷🇸 Serbia: ~52% of the EU average
- 🇦🇱 Albania: ~42% of the EU average
- 🇲🇰 North Macedonia: ~42% of the EU average
- 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina: ~35% of the EU average 1]
Freedom of movement becomes a huge problem with poor countries as, obviously, they are more than happy to displace native workers for a fraction of the wage. And, as the main second language in these countries is English (other than maybe Russian), we would bear the brunt of it were we to rejoin and were they to be accepted (I am sure Goldmans is right now proposing some creative finance so that they look like they meet the financial criteria).
I assume that, as with the old Eastern Block, there will be ‘transitional arrangements’ and, if we are a bit more sensible than Blair, we will use them.
However, poor countries acceding to the EU make everyone else poorer for at least a while. Ultimately, it can be argued, everyone gets richer as trade increases and the poorer countries become richer. But ultimately is decades, and the interim friction can be brutal.
In addition, the more countries there are, and the more disparate in cultures, the more the democratic deficit increases. And the more strain there is on the Euro.
Ultimately, there is more of a case for Canada to become a state (or at least merge with the U.S on more equal terms) than a ‘deepening’ of the EU. At least they share a language and, broadly, a culture.
I am very much for joining the single market and getting back freedom of movement (assuming the new joiners get very strict transitional arrangements) but, to join the EU, we have to go in open eyed and believe in ‘the project’! I think the project (ultimate federation) is deeply flawed for reasons that I have explained. However, if you are young and idealistic, I accept you may have a different opinion.
Finally (!), an honest and respectful debate is a really good thing. But both sides need to understand and address the legitimate disagreements.