German-EU plan to replace UK with 6 countries and lose $3.2 TRILLION GDP in process

Brexit Britain dodges another EU bullet, as von der Leyen announces £26bn spending pledge

Montage © Facts4EU.Org 2024

More proof that ‘Rejoin’ is far from being the ‘status quo’

Despite it’s failing economy, last week Germany re-confirmed its role in expanding the EU empire to include six impoverished Balkan countries. This involves an EU investment of €31 billion (nearly £25 bn GBP) – a cost which the UK will now avoid thanks to Brexit.

Only four days after Ursula von der Leyen’s visit to Moldova to promise a €1.8bn ‘bung’ just ahead of that country’s referendum on EU membership, she travelled to Berlin for the 10th anniversary of the Berlin Process Summit. This is a formal meeting between the German Federal government headed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the leaders of the six Balkan countries, as well as some EU leaders including Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Federal Chancellor Scholz stressed that the future of the six Western Balkan states was in the European Union. He said that it was “high time” for the words about their EU membership prospects to be translated into action.

The 'Berlin Process Summit, 14 Oct 2024

Credit: Federal Government/Thomas Köhler - click to enlarge

“The six countries of the Western Balkans are part of the European family. Their future lies in the European Union.”

- Olaf Scholz, German Chancellor, Berlin, 14 Oct 2024

“We have helped the budgets of the countries in the Western Balkans, through our one billion euros energy support package, to deal with the high energy costs. We are now building the infrastructure with EUR 30 billion under an investment plan to make the Western Balkans independent.”

- Ursula von der Leyen, EU Commission President, Berlin, 14 Oct 2024

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The German-EU plan to replace UK with 6 poor states with combined GDP 5% that of UK

Brexit Facts4EU.Org Summary

The Western Balkans countries

When the EU's intentions come to pass,
the EU will have lost one country, added six,
and lost $3.18 TRILLION dollars of GDP per year

Economy of the Balkans : $157.8 billion for all six countries COMBINED
Economy of the UK : $3,340.0 billion – 21 times as large

[Source : World Bank, figures for 2023.]

There are six Balkans countries:

Albania
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Kosovo (still not recognised by the UN and many countries around the world)
Montenegro
North Macedonia
Serbia

Click to enlarge the maps

Very broadly speaking, the six Western Balkans countries are situated east of Italy, north of Greece, and south of Croatia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. They ‘fill in a gap’ in the map of EU member states.

The EU’s plans to replace the UK with the Balkan countries

The EU has been planning the accession of the six Balkans countries into the EU for over 20 years. The EU already has Stabilisation and Association Agreements (SAAs) in force with them all. Since the UK’s vote to leave the EU, this process has been accelerated

“We’re having some very difficult negotiations in Europe on Brexit, and this really is an opportunity for us to bring the Western Balkan peninsular on board as the UK withdraws from the EU.”
“On the 17th of May [2018] the European Council will be meeting. It’s going to be 27 plus 6 – the leaders of the Balkans will be there, meeting the leaders of the EU.”
- Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, then holding the rotating EU Presidency

The ex-Communist de facto EU Foreign and Defence Secretary was also heavily involved. Here was Federica Mogherini at the World Economic Forum in late 2017, explaining how the EU would soon replace the UK with the Balkans:

“The big loser of the game that currently is being played will be the UK.”
“We always think the EU future will be the 27. Actually we are negotiating accession with several countries.”
“When we talk about the future of the EU, we have to take into consideration that countries especially in the Western Balkans will eventually become members of the European Union so we will be more than 27. The power of attraction of the EU is still extremely strong.”
- Federica Mogherini, Vice-President of EU Commission, 2017

Observations

This is a very difficult region in many ways, torn apart following the break-up of Yugoslavia, and the scene of foreign policy and military disasters for the EU. Given the geographical proximity it is still felt by many that the EU’s actions (and inactions) did not constitute its finest hours.

Readers will no doubt wish the six Western Balkans countries well in their gradual development following some difficult decades. Crime and corruption is still endemic and it is hoped that this will improve eventually. The UK of course has been a significant global player in the region and still is, although we look forward to the day when the British Foreign Office does not still feel hidebound by the foreign policies of the EU and can act with complete independence.

A great deal of UK Aid has of course been sent to the region over the years. Some of this aid has been 'badged' as EU Aid, but this is now changing. In due course recipients of British donations will realise just how generous the UK is.

In the meantime, we wish the EU well as they try to sell the idea of six poor countries joining the EU to the taxpayers, in order to replace the sixth-largest economy in the World.

We get the messages out there but if you want us to keep doing work like this,
please support us with a small (or large!) gesture, or we will have to cut back dramatically.

Every few pounds helps to keep us fighting for Brexit,
and for independence, sovereignty, democracy and freedom.

Please help us today if you can – it takes just two minutes and your details are kept confidential.

[ Sources: World Bank | UN | EU Commission | EU Council ] Politicians and journalists can contact us for details, as ever.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org, 23 Oct 2024

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Reader Comments 7

1. Ashley Great Britain , Wednesday, October 23, 2024, 06:43:

I have been to Kosovo and Macedonia and they really are third world. I've never seen anywhere like it. They could be anywhere and certainly don't feel European. The EU want to add countries to their project no matter what the consequences.
These countries will only be a massive drain on the EU and there will be an exodus from the balkans into the EU if they join.
Although many balkans will make their way to the UK we would be far worse off if we hadn't left the EU.

2. Old Albion , Wednesday, October 23, 2024, 07:31:

Yup, essentially what I pointed out yesterday Re. Moldova.

3. Have You Wondered , Wednesday, October 23, 2024, 08:34:

.
As 9. terence patrick hewett , said yesterday: "It might seem like there’s little point trying to identify the 'sick man of Europe' when the whole Continent has come to resemble a hospital ward.
.
So how on earth will the EU subsidise the newcomers? The EU are taking on more debt?
.
Therefor - does that demonstrate that this is a pointedly political / doctrinal move rather than the alleged original tenet of the EU to 'trade apples and pears for peace'?
.
Perhaps the accession countries are in for a long wait. Looking to the horizon - do you think the 'richer' EU nations will wear it or be coerced into it?
.

4. Gazzablack , Wednesday, October 23, 2024, 11:38:

3, HYW
.
I wonder if the Balkan six have factored in their membership responsibility of accepting an allocation of illegal economic migrants.
.
Then of course, there is every chance the "local populace" will take advantage of FOM and relocate en masse to the Western member states.

5. Sparky , Wednesday, October 23, 2024, 13:21:

This piece implies that the EU has tried to replace the departure of the UK with the Balkan states which is not true. All but one applied to be members of the EU long before the 2016 referendum.
.
When looking at expansion of the EU you always forget Northern Ireland, but I suppose the EU hasn’t expanded with NI, the UK left NI behind as a result of Brexit.

6. Gazzablack , Wednesday, October 23, 2024, 16:05:

5, sparkless
.
And yet they effectively are.
The EU touting that it is expanding, while studiously avoiding the reality that it's then second largest economy left.

7. Adam Hiley , Friday, October 25, 2024, 18:20:

I will always love Europe I have always been sceptical about the EU it should have stayed as a Common Market

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