Some time ago the EU decided against admitting these states anytime soon. For the obvious reasons. Turkey zero chance. Looks quite likely to me that we could be looking at the death knells of this most recent European project. World depressions tend to do that.

Red and Blue Army!

There have been some (mad dogmatic politicians) in the EU pushing for greater expansion. However, with the internal disagreements in place this has had to be shelved. Quite clearly, Hungary, Slovakia, Greece, Spain, Portugal will not want, and will absolutely not accept, any new (succession) countries.
The EU is certainly stymied at the moment. Talks of expansion and greater federalism have completely dried up. [Frankly, well before the coronavirus]. Every nation for themselves at present.

Red and Blue Army!

there is bureaucracy and rail roading and small is beautiful and the more local the better where government is concerned but the Germany economy dwarfs us as an exporter, compare each country's trade surplus/deficit and you'll see their policy of developing new markets is based on having things to sell to them not bureaucratic inertia, and another reason for trade to be as free as possible is that we import half our food - when travel restrictions ease off we'll be wanting free and frictionless movement of goods until we're in the clear to prevent serious shortages, better to make sure we can feed ourselves before we start celebrating our new found independence

Italy and Spain are going to have one hell of a time recovering from this.

Could be the end of the project.

Or an opportunity to restart with a better model.

Me too. I will be rescheduling our Italian tour as soon as it's 'safe'.

Wissie could get his wish of being back in the EU.
I have a feeling after this that GB may have a bigger part to play.
At that point I would gladly vote to rejoin with new rules that at a minimum allow us to make our own rules and decisions which are best for us.
Time will tell but I dont think we need Poirot.
Another karma moment on the horizon.

I didn’t know anyone actually believed what is written in The Sun and then repeated in the Mail.

Anyway, it was of course completely false. We got them without any delay

Edited by Mapletree (21 Mar 2020 9.17am)

[Link]

What a load of w*** the EU are.

I think the irony for the EU is that post this Corona virus there could be a real public appetite for a buy European campaign. Must admit I am planning on returning to Nokia for my mobile phone needs and will be doing my best not to buy any more Chinese goods.

That a European movement, with a genuine vision and leadership, could gain some traction. Not the EU, that is a dead duck but the notion of a Pan-European movement that sort to reject Globalisation and essentially looked to create a Europe that simply did not need the rest of the world, and especially China, might have some traction. We cannot return to the status quo, that much is obvious.

"The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command." - 1984 - George Orwell.

Hopefully it will refocus minds everywhere in Europe.I trust it will stop any suggestions in the UK that the EU is anything other than a group of nations acting collaboratively when it is in their common interest to do so, whilst stopping those in the EU who would like to change that.

That's though a long way down the road. Dealing with the crisis comes first. Agreeing the needed extension next. EU reform after that, and then us rejoining that reformed EU.

You know it makes sense!!!

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.