To think it's unbelievable that young people in Italy and Greece are mostly anti EU?

[Biwurlu]

I hear alot that in countries like Italy and Greece it's the opposite to the UK and most young people are anti eu.

Is this really true? I know no Italians or Greeks! But some here must do

@Henrysmycat with regard to the 75% - of course I don't know them. I was joining in with the other ridiculous comments; if others can post unsubstantiated twaddle I don't see why I shouldn't.

Surely their problems stem from government corruption and under taxation. These issues would not be resolved by leaving the EU.

Greece should never have joined the EU. Goldman Sachs helped them fiddle the figures, and the EU was prepared to collude with this. So, they are tied to the Euro and can't devalue their currency.

@Gone2far

Greece, Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia were admitted in an attempt to thwart Putin. No twiddling of figures would have persuaded EU to do this, it was a safety concern. It's still the only reason why they are still bothering with the rest of the Balkans.

All this thread shows is that it's as sticky an argument in Italy / Greece as here! And that people are as passionately blinkered there as here on both sides of the argument.

It is a valid question and as for the UK there are pros and cons for both sides of the argument but the debate is far to entrenched and heated for it to stay sensible. Maybe in twenty years!

know that they feel protected by Brussels, as they have has a series of weak coalitions, populist and corrupt governments.

How does Brussels protect them?

I agree with you dr. And, as you say, Romania and Bulgaria were admitted, even though they didn't pass certain standards, for the same reason. But , in the Greek situation, there was the pretence of them having to pass standards, which was fiddled. Albania is due to join next, for the very same reason.

@Tulipsinajug

By implementing a certain standards of governing and holding those who don't comply to account, this allowing the people to go about their business without all the hassle of the full blown corruption.

Hmm seriously, I don't think many from outside Europe are looking at UK right now & thinking ooh yes let's do that?!!!

I mean outside UK!

The Greek economy is 25% smaller than before the financial crisis.

The problem is Greece is trapped in the euro with the Netherlands and Germany. This is a disaster for Greece, next previously it would have had a weaker currency which would be attraci to people buying it's goods.

On the other side this is a massive advantage to Germany and the Netherlands who had much start currencies, so now relatively speaking their goods are cheap.

It is no suprise Italy and Greece do not like the EU, the euro is literally destroying their economies.

I swear to god, post like these are fake news/trolling. Full of inaccuracies and bullcrap where everyone either quotes a travel documentary from 10 years ago or they all agree to the same parroting rubbish based on a 6 day break in Corfu speaking to the taverna waiter.
Jesus weeps.

you seem very angry henry. Perhaps you'd like to point out which bits are fake new and trolling and put us right. For an EU thread on MN, it's been measured and rational (until you posted)

Mmm I'd like to know which posts are fake news and trolling too. Many of us are talking about our experiences with people we know. I fail to see how you can say that's 'fake news' (god I hate that phrase, it's just a way of saying someone is lying without actually daring to say it) or trolling.

DrvonPatek Gone2far Greece joined the EU in 1981 and its membership, which may well have had political motivation, wasn't a reaction to Putin. I think you are talking about membership of the Euro where figures were certainly fiddled.

not when you look at the youth unemployment on those 2 countries.

that's interesting hawthorn, I'd conflated Greece joining the EU with membership of the Euro - assuming they were simultaneous, or, rather, that joining the EU meant they had to adopt the Euro.

well who knows?

All I can say is I have a couple of friends from those countries and they have differing opinions!

I do hate the way people want to approach this as "right" and "wrong".

The euro isn't ruining Italy.
A historically corrupt system, a high percentage of tax evasion, an ageing population etc etc are ruining Italy Wages are low because many people still find themselves working for small family owned businesses who will pay what they can get away with in terms of wages and will employ a clever accountant to make sure that on paper they don't pay much in terms of taxes. Etc etc.

I didn't know that. I remember when Greece was very glad to be part of the EU, they had bad economic problems at the time and were helped by being in. Everyone likes/reveres the Greeks anyway so no problem with it.

I know nothing about the Italians.

Are you quite sure?

There are a lot of people here in favour of Brexit, I daresay someone visiting the UK would encounter them and go away with a distorted impression.

Are you quite sure?

My (well educated, clever) Austrian au pair is extremely anti-EU. She says her friends are as well. I was quite taken aback by her vehemence on the subject.

Read Varoufakis's book Adults in the Room, you will see why the EU might be unpopular in Greece!

In 2016 the IMF admitted that Greece had been treated far too harshly over the bailouts. As the real underlying reason for the bailout was to prevent the Euro from collapsing it is unfair that ordinary Greek citizens were made to bear the brunt of this cost, which should have been shared more equally amongst all the Eurozone countries.

Greece and Italy are also being left to deal with the migrant crisis more or less on their own, with no real help from Brussels, which can't be helping.

I live in Italy and a lot of people, including young people are pro-EU. I live in a block of flats and lots of my neighbours have EU flags hanging from their balconies as well as anti-Savini banners. Unfortunately, Italy, for many years has had a very right-wing media and many people don't read beyond the headlines but the situation is far from simple.

Also I agree with PPs who have said it is more likely to be older Italians who are against the EU. I teach teenagers/young Italians and they seem pretty clued up about how much the EU has to offer them and many of them take up opportunities in other EU countries. It is true that many Italians are fed up of having to deal with the problem of migrants arriving in their thousands with very little help from other EU countries.

Rachel "There are a lot of people here in favour of Brexit, I daresay someone visiting the UK would encounter them and go away with a distorted impression."

how so?