How Brexit is changing the EU

The Economist

17 Oct 201907:34

Summary

TLDRThe video script discusses the impact of Brexit on the European Union (EU) and its member states. Initially predicted to signal the EU's downfall, Brexit has paradoxically led to increased optimism and attachment to the EU among its citizens. The script highlights the rise of Volt Europa, a pan-European political movement founded in response to Brexit, advocating for a more united Europe. Despite challenges like the financial crisis and migration issues, particularly affecting countries like Greece, the EU has shown resilience. It has survived crises and continues to evolve, with a shift in Eurosceptic attitudes towards reforming the EU from within rather than exiting. The EU's survival instinct is underscored, as it faces existential threats but ultimately finds the political will to persist.

Takeaways

🗳️ The UK's Brexit vote in 2016 was perceived as a potential threat to the EU, with some predicting it could lead to the end of the EU as it was known.
🌐 Brexit sparked the creation of Volt Europa, a pan-European political movement founded by Andrea Venson, aiming to unite Europe and protect shared values.
📊 Despite initial concerns, optimism about the EU's future has increased by over 20% since the Brexit referendum, with people feeling more attached to the EU.
🤔 There is a significant portion of the European population, including 44% of Italians, who are in favor of leaving the EU, presenting a challenge for pro-EU movements.
🔄 The EU has faced and survived multiple crises, including the 2008 financial crisis and the 2015 migrant crisis, demonstrating resilience and a survival instinct.
🇬🇷 Greece, one of the countries most affected by the crises, has not turned against the EU despite feeling overlooked, and the desire to leave the EU among Greeks has decreased.
🔄 Eurosceptic parties, such as Marine Le Pen's National Front, have shifted from advocating for a Frexit to pushing for reforms within the EU, reflecting a change in Euroscepticism.
💪 The EU's survival instinct has been evident, with leaders showing the political will to keep the union together, even if at the last minute.
🌟 There is a historic opportunity for the EU to evolve into a true political union capable of supporting significant societal changes, according to Volt's founder.
🤝 The EU's future hinges on its ability to balance the interests of its 28 member countries, each with unique histories and priorities.

Q & A

What was the outcome of the UK's referendum on leaving the European Union?
-The UK voted to leave the European Union in a historic referendum held in 2016.
What was the initial prediction regarding the impact of Brexit on the EU?
-Some predicted that Brexit would be the beginning of the end for the EU, with the possibility of other countries following suit.
How has the attitude of the European public towards the EU changed since the Brexit referendum?
-Optimism about the future of the European Union has grown by over 20%, and people feel more attached to the EU than before the Brexit referendum.
What is Volt Europa and what was the motivation behind its founding?
-Volt Europa is a pan-European movement with political parties in 14 different countries. It was founded by Andrea Venson as a response to Brexit, with the aim to steer the direction of Europe towards unity and cohesion.
What is the current rate of people in Italy who want to leave the EU?
-Italy has the third highest rate of people wanting to leave the EU at 44%.
How has the perception of the EU changed among Eurosceptic political parties since Brexit?
-Even the most Eurosceptic political parties have shifted their stance, advocating for reforming the EU from within rather than leaving it.
What were the major crises the EU faced in the past decade?
-The EU faced the world financial crisis in 2008, which led to recession in Europe and the migrant crisis of 2015 when more than 1 million refugees and migrants entered Europe.
How did the financial crisis impact Greece?
-The financial crisis led to a significant decrease in Greece's GDP by about 27% over eight years, resulting in a much poorer population and the need to implement strict austerity measures.
What is the current sentiment of Greeks towards the EU?
-Despite feeling that their interests are not taken into account by the EU, Greeks have not turned against it. In fact, the share of Greeks wanting to leave the EU decreased by over 20% since the Brexit referendum.
What are the two potential paths for the future of the EU as suggested by the founder of Volt?
-The two potential paths are making the EU a true political union capable of supporting drastic societal changes, or becoming a loose coalition of states with less of a future.
What has been the EU's response to crises in the past decade?
-The EU has shown a survival instinct, with EU leaders demonstrating the political will to hold the union together, often making critical decisions at the last minute.

Outlines

00:00

🇪🇺 Brexit's Impact on EU Unity

The script discusses the aftermath of the UK's Brexit referendum, where the UK voted to leave the EU in 2016. Initially, there was fear that Brexit could lead to the disintegration of the EU as other countries might follow suit. However, the EU has shown resilience, with a growing sense of optimism among its members. The narrative introduces Andrea Venson, the founder of Volt Europa, a pan-European political movement with parties in 14 countries, which was founded in response to Brexit. The movement aims to create a more united and cohesive Europe. Despite a significant portion of Europeans, including Italians, wanting to leave the EU, there is a growing attachment to the EU since the Brexit vote. The script also touches on the changing attitudes of Eurosceptic parties, like Marine Le Pen's shift from advocating for a Frexit to pushing for EU reform from within.

05:03

🌐 EU's Resilience and the Path Forward

This paragraph delves into the EU's ability to survive crises, such as the financial crisis of 2008 and the migrant crisis of 2015, which had a particularly severe impact on Greece. Despite these challenges, Greece has not turned against the EU, and in fact, the desire to leave the EU among Greeks has decreased since the Brexit vote. The paragraph highlights the EU's survival instinct and the political will of its leaders to keep the union together, even if it's at the last minute. The founder of Volt Europa sees a historic opportunity for the EU to become a true political union capable of supporting societal changes or risk becoming a loose coalition of states with an uncertain future. The paragraph concludes with the acknowledgment of the difficulty in achieving true unity due to the diverse histories and interests of the 28 EU countries.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Brexit

Brexit refers to the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union, which was determined by a historic referendum held in 2016. It is a central theme of the video, illustrating the potential impact of this decision on the EU and its member states. The script mentions that some predicted Brexit would be the beginning of the end for the EU, but it also explores the possibility that it might have actually benefited the Union by making the EU seem like a 'safety' organization that protects its members from chaos.

💡European Union (EU)

The European Union is a political and economic union of 28 European countries that are committed to working together for peace and prosperity. The EU is a key subject of the video, discussing its challenges, crises, and the evolving attitudes of its member states and citizens towards it. The script highlights the EU's survival instinct and the political will of its leaders to hold the union together despite crises such as the financial crisis and the migrant crisis.

💡Referendum

A referendum is a direct vote in which the entire electorate is invited to vote on a particular proposal. The video discusses the Brexit referendum as a pivotal event that sparked discussions about the future of the EU and led to the creation of movements like Volt Europa. The script suggests that the Brexit referendum might have had a paradoxical effect, strengthening the EU by making it seem like a protective entity.

💡Populist Parties

Populist parties are political organizations that seek to appeal to ordinary people who feel that their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups. The script mentions that there were at least 15 populist parties across Europe advocating for a referendum to leave the EU or for leaving the EU outright. However, it also notes a shift in their stance, with some parties like Marine Le Pen's advocating for reform from within rather than outright departure.

💡Volt Europa

Volt Europa is a pan-European movement with political parties in 14 different countries, founded in response to Brexit. The movement aims to create a more united and cohesive Europe where no country is left behind. The video uses Volt Europa as an example of a new political force that is attempting to steer the direction of Europe towards unity and shared values.

💡Optimism

Optimism in the context of the video refers to the growing positive sentiment among EU citizens about the future of the Union. The script reports that since 2016, optimism about the EU's future has increased by over 20%, and people feel more attached to the EU than before the Brexit referendum, suggesting a potential shift in public perception and a strengthening of the EU's position.

💡Euroscepticism

Euroscepticism is the criticism of or opposition to the European Union's policies, intentions, or the principle of European integration. The video discusses how Eurosceptic political parties have changed their tune post-Brexit, with some advocating for reforming the EU from within rather than leaving it. This shift indicates a complex relationship between member states and the EU, and the evolving nature of Euroscepticism.

💡Financial Crisis

The financial crisis mentioned in the video refers to the global economic downturn that began in 2008, which had severe impacts on several European countries, leading to recession and the need for bailouts. The script uses the financial crisis as an example of one of the serious problems the EU has faced, highlighting the Union's resilience and ability to survive economic challenges.

💡Migrant Crisis

The migrant crisis refers to the large influx of refugees and migrants into Europe in 2015, many fleeing war and chaos in the Middle East. The video discusses the impact of this crisis on countries like Greece, which had to deal with the challenges of mass migration while also implementing austerity measures. The EU's response to the migrant crisis is presented as a test of its solidarity and ability to address humanitarian issues.

💡Unity

Unity in the context of the video refers to the idea of a more politically integrated European Union that can support significant societal changes. The founder of Volt Europa advocates for a true political union as a path forward for the EU, contrasting it with the alternative of becoming a loose coalition of states with an uncertain future. The concept of unity is central to the discussion of the EU's potential trajectory and the aspirations of pro-European movements.

Highlights

The UK's vote to leave the EU in 2016 was predicted to signal the beginning of the end for the EU.

Brexit was seen as potentially positive, possibly leading to other countries leaving the EU.

There were at least 15 populist parties across Europe advocating for leaving the EU in 2016.

Optimism about the EU's future has grown by over 20% since the Brexit referendum.

People feel more attached to the EU now than before the Brexit vote.

Brexit may have strengthened the EU, making it feel like a safety net against chaos.

Eurosceptic political parties have shifted their stance, advocating for reform within the EU rather than leaving.

The Brexit vote initially seemed like an existential threat to the EU, but the EU has faced and overcome serious problems before.

The 2008 financial crisis led to recession in Europe, with countries like Ireland, Portugal, and Greece needing bailouts.

The migrant crisis of 2015 saw over 1 million refugees and migrants entering Europe, impacting countries like Greece significantly.

Greece's GDP fell by 27% over eight years due to the financial crisis, leading to widespread poverty.

Despite the crises, Greeks' desire to leave the EU decreased by over 20% since the Brexit referendum.

The EU has shown a survival instinct, with leaders finding the political will to hold the union together during crises.

The founder of Volt Europa, Andrea Venson, believes there's a historic opportunity to make the EU a true political union.

Volt Europa is a pan-European movement with political parties in 14 different countries, founded in response to Brexit.

Across Europe, a third of people want to leave the EU, with Italy having the third highest rate at 44%.

The EU's survival is at stake, with countries recognizing the importance of holding the union together.