[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by TheDaddy

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?

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.