Re: Eurozone will collapse...
 

But why would they do that? :confused:

The EU is perfect as they must now know and there's only gloom and certain doom outside of its warm, cuddly, all embracing security... :rolleyes:

Re: Eurozone will collapse...
 

The relationship between the EU and most of the eastern european countries is abysmal at best and while i do think Poland will jump first they won't be the last one to bin the EU creating big problems for the EU. Freedom of movement is going to be the lead weight that drags the EU down as it was implemented for the easy transition of professionals and workers across the block and has ended up in practical terms causing ever more immigration putting a strain on all member states. The old guard may have their heads in the sand but the calls for major reform of the EU are increasing and much like when the UK tried to get meaningful reform so far it's being met with nein and non all the time.

The EU's inability to adapt to current trends cost it the UK and will cost it at least one eastern european country soon. If it's to survive in any meaningful way it better start listening to the practical people rather then constantly taking only the idealists seriously.

Re: Eurozone will collapse...
 

Why would Eastern European countries want to stop freedom of movement? They have gained from it.

Re: Eurozone will collapse...
 

How have they gained from a brain drain of skilled workers and a mass exodus of young people, because they send a few quid home every now and then?

Re: Eurozone will collapse...
 

Unemployment in those countries has reduced significantly and direct investment from overseas has been easily achieved helping lift standards of living in the countries. The EU enjoys very high approval ratings in these countries and people see it as another defence against Russia. The only countries that have decided to leave the EU have been islands on its peripheral - Greenland and the UK. The Continent is firmly behind the EU despite many predicting the Netherlands and France would elect anti-EU leave candidates.

Re: Eurozone will collapse...
 

Unemployment has reduced significantly because there's no one left there apart from the old and unambitious, I think Bulgaria has lost a third of its citizens for instance.

Re: Eurozone will collapse...
 

Not even close. Bulgaria joined the EU on 1 January 2007 with a population of 7.66m. Its population is now 7.10m.

Re: Eurozone will collapse...
 

Who said anything about since it joined the EU? Try checking from the early nineties when the curtain came down and you'll find it's not only close it's spot on. If you want to talk about post EU Estonia has lost a fifth of its already tiny population to free movement and some politicians in Poland are welcoming brexit as young skilled poles might just go home

http://www.express.co.uk/news/politi...tain-leaves-EU

Re: Eurozone will collapse...
 

We've been talking of EU freedom of movement, not when the Iron Curtain came down.

Re: Eurozone will collapse...
 

Ok Andrew there are no mass protests in Poland, Hungary and Romania they are all shiny and happy bathing in the EU glow lol Bulgaria has increasing protests and all freedom of movement has meant for most eastern european is a loss of their doctors, nurses, teachers amongst other professions. Yes they may have benefitted in some ways but they don't feel the gain outweighs the loss and are certainly not fully behind the EU most if not all have called for reform only to be met by the EU wall of silence.

Re: Eurozone will collapse...
 

When exactly did Poland, Hungary and Romania join the Eurozone? They haven't so they're not relevant to any talk of Eurozone collapse.
If we're moving onto the EU, they all want to stay. It was hard for their residents to travel whilst behind the Iron Curtain so freedom of movement is understandably something they're keen on. Ditto, they welcome the protection that the EU gives them from Russian domination as it can use its economic clout to try and protect them.

Re: Eurozone will collapse...
 

That EU economic clout worked well for Ukraine.

Re: Eurozone will collapse...
 

Ukraine's not in the EU but the EU, US and other countries have indeed applied limited sanctions against Russia due to its involvement and annexation in Ukraine. The EU sanctions would have been far more severe and doubtless more effective if the country attacked was an EU member.

Re: Eurozone will collapse...
 

I know it's not in the EU but it demonstrates how ineffectual the so called "economic clout" is.

Re: Eurozone will collapse...
 

The sanctions applied on behalf of a member state would be more severe and therefore more effective than those applied on behalf of a non-EU country like Ukraine. Hence why Eastern European countries are keen members.