The European Union Explained*

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  • Опубліковано 22 гру 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 19 тис.

  • @floppyfish2814
    @floppyfish2814 4 роки тому +12383

    For anyone wondering what he means at 5:22 by "That region in Greece where it's totally legal to ban women" He's referring to an area called "Mount Athos" it's a peninsula on the coast of Greece that is entirely enhabited by Christian Orthodox Monks who live in their monasteries. Since they are all men, they ask that women not visit the island as they say that they see it as a "distraction from their prayers." While technically part of Greece, Mount Athos maintains their autonomy by not voting in Greek elections, and not paying taxes to the Greek government. They also do not fly the flag of Greece, but instead, the flag of the Byzantine Empire, as that was the empire that they were living under when Mount Athos was formed. It's a long and complicated history spanning all the way back to when Jesus Christ was alive, but I just wanted to make it clear that it's a bit more than just "Totally legal to ban women."

    • @cvtost3322
      @cvtost3322 4 роки тому +578

      Thanks for that info!

    • @floppyfish2814
      @floppyfish2814 4 роки тому +191

      CVT OST glad you appreciate it!

    • @Ghostpepper326
      @Ghostpepper326 4 роки тому +298

      That’s very helpful to know with more context

    • @camotley4644
      @camotley4644 4 роки тому +159

      also they have huge villas, are super racist and love only their divine asses

    • @joshuaperkins9344
      @joshuaperkins9344 4 роки тому +106

      You say that as if Jesus Christ was ever alive.

  • @albinjohnsson2511
    @albinjohnsson2511 4 роки тому +8197

    This video is 7 years old. Here's some clarifications/changes for new viewers:
    1. The UK has officially left the EU
    2. Iceland, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Kosovo are currently not official candidates to join the EU
    3. Turkey is a candidate country on paper, but there is no way in hell that’s happening anytime soon
    4. Latvia and Lithuania have entered the Eurozone
    5. Montenegro and Kosovo have chosen to adopt the Euro unilaterally

    • @danvier6777
      @danvier6777 2 роки тому +414

      yeah and even this is changed

    • @Dac_DT_MKD
      @Dac_DT_MKD 2 роки тому +177

      And soon Macedonia may lose its candidacy status too due to Bulgaria's ridiculous demands

    • @alfredyt
      @alfredyt 2 роки тому +215

      Croatia is adopting Euro next year

    • @zlatko8051
      @zlatko8051 2 роки тому +233

      6. Ukraine and Moldova has EU candidate status now

    • @postblitz
      @postblitz 2 роки тому +261

      Turkey is under "eagerly awaiting Edrogan to croak" status.

  • @jcp3049
    @jcp3049 2 роки тому +2085

    I live in Spain and it’s totally normal to go to Portugal on a Saturday afternoon and come back at night. Sometimes you don’t even notice you’re in a totally different country until you sit down at a restaurant and the waiter speaks portugués

    • @DavidWoods255
      @DavidWoods255 2 роки тому +1

      Almost like borders are largely drawn by humans on maps and don't really matter for 99% of people

    • @jcp3049
      @jcp3049 2 роки тому +21

      @@DavidWoods255 There are many borders that do matter.

    • @Feanor1169
      @Feanor1169 2 роки тому +2

      @@jcp3049 Enjoy the erasure of both Spain and Portugal as nations and separate cultures. The goal of the EU is complete destruction of your culture and people.

    • @wylew1331
      @wylew1331 2 роки тому +114

      @@Feanor1169lmao, you must be an USian

    • @bolamelancia54
      @bolamelancia54 2 роки тому +11

      I live in by the Atlantic Ocean so i dont do that but when I got o Algarve (south) I already did that, it's really cool but o wich i went further deep.

  • @NFSHeld
    @NFSHeld Рік тому +780

    By the way, French Guiana at the northern coast of South America being "technically France" means that a flight from France to French Guiana is also "technically a domestic flight" and therefore very cheap, which is nice if you want to spend your winter holidays in Caribbean climate.

  • @WoolyMelon
    @WoolyMelon 4 роки тому +19303

    UA-cam: let’s recommend this the day after brexit

    • @cesilius9259
      @cesilius9259 4 роки тому +166

      Right?! Let them know they made the right choice.

    • @lilyydotdev
      @lilyydotdev 4 роки тому +386

      @@cesilius9259 i mean they now have to get visas and go through immigration and importing & exporting is now more expensive for them

    • @blightsteel101
      @blightsteel101 4 роки тому +92

      I'm guessing a lot of people have been looking for information on how the EU actually works.

    • @CCABPSacsach
      @CCABPSacsach 4 роки тому +31

      Wait UK brexit already??

    • @lilyydotdev
      @lilyydotdev 4 роки тому +14

      @@CCABPSacsach yes

  • @rowdywoman7746
    @rowdywoman7746 5 років тому +11592

    “The borders of the EU will probably continue to expand”
    UK: I’m gonna pretend I didn’t see that

    • @supermankelly
      @supermankelly 5 років тому +194

      Once the UK leaves and is doing better more countries will leave the EU.

    • @elliotbriffa4944
      @elliotbriffa4944 5 років тому +338

      SupermanKelly™ but it won’t do better even people like ReesMogg said we’re not going to feel the benefits for atleast 50 years

    • @bca-biciclindcuaxel7527
      @bca-biciclindcuaxel7527 5 років тому +23

      @@supermankelly English are not cretins, they will never leave United States of Europe.

    • @elliotbriffa4944
      @elliotbriffa4944 5 років тому +148

      Apathetic Apparition what? Yeah let’s double down on something that we’re not sure is going to benefit us and will only reap the rewards half a century later? No let’s work to better the EU from the inside

    • @elliotbriffa4944
      @elliotbriffa4944 5 років тому +57

      Apathetic Apparition absolutely. England is apart of the United Kingdom and as the UK is apart of the European Union, when we better the EU we would by extension be bettering England.

  • @Skunkiboi
    @Skunkiboi 4 роки тому +5754

    "The Europe Union is like a big Family. You talk about everything and in the end you do what mother wants".

    • @Dave_Sisson
      @Dave_Sisson 4 роки тому +376

      @@samrevlej9331 Angela Merkel of course.

    • @rjfaber1991
      @rjfaber1991 3 роки тому +179

      @@w花b I would question why anybody would want to leave in the first place, but it is worth noting that Britain's difficulty in leaving the EU was almost entirely self-inflicted. Yes, it takes time to replace thousands of pieces of legislation and regulation that come with EU membership, but that could all have been sorted out quite quickly. What really held back Brexit was Britain's constant "have our cake and eat it" attitude, and making demands that were physically impossible.

    • @dageogaming4478
      @dageogaming4478 3 роки тому +14

      @Tee Pi europe really isnt a country

    • @averagejoe6031
      @averagejoe6031 3 роки тому +6

      @@w花b yeah but I’d imagine Belgium would be smart enough to compromise on some things and not be so stubborn like the UK.

    • @ericc1336
      @ericc1336 3 роки тому +2

      Mother is fanatical deluded and dangerous

  • @JackRussel1997
    @JackRussel1997 3 роки тому +525

    3:02 Actually, Sweden doesn't have a permanent opt-out in our contract like Denmark and the UK. We just choose to fail one of the economic requirements on purpose every year so that we aren't allowed to (read: don't have to) use the Euro

    • @janickpauwels3792
      @janickpauwels3792 3 роки тому +30

      I don't see the point why you desperately want to avoid joining the Euro. As with many other memberships in the EU, you basically are following common rules anyway, without having a say. The SEK EUR exchange rate is basically static, so the only change you would see, is a different colour in bank notes and another number on it. Your companies already are doing virtually everything in EUR anyway, or at least those who trade with businesses in other countries. With the transition to electronic money going on (I very rarely use cash anymore), there's even less reason to stick to your own paper notes. I can understand when you want to keep your own money so that you can have your own monetary policy, but as Swedish and Danish money is basically linked with the EUR anyway, what's the point? It's not because we have given up on Belgian franks, that we have lost our soul/identity/whatever. We are still Belgians. We just use some other paper to pay our groceries with. It's not a big deal. It feels like people in Sweden and Denmark feel insecure about themselves. Somehow you need your "own" money, just so that you can say "hey, I'm Swedish/Danish". Weird...

    • @XXXTENTAClON227
      @XXXTENTAClON227 3 роки тому +137

      @@janickpauwels3792 no, they’re simply just keeping themselves safe from the error of other countries. That’s why the UK never joined; the £ was extremely safe and most importantly was the oldest currency in the world. 2008 completely shattered Swedens confidence of changing currency, hence why it’s still so skeptical.
      Basically, Scandinavia is wealthy enough to not feel pressured into change, so unless it can guarantee stability (which it can’t) they will not switch.

    • @vulpes7079
      @vulpes7079 2 роки тому +7

      Outstanding move

    • @Racing_Fox
      @Racing_Fox 2 роки тому +5

      @@XXXTENTAClON227 what do you mean 'was the oldest currency'

    • @XXXTENTAClON227
      @XXXTENTAClON227 2 роки тому +24

      @@Racing_Fox the £ is the oldest currency that still exists

  • @santosgt8938
    @santosgt8938 3 роки тому +3365

    "Lying about your financial situation is something no country would EVER do..." *Heavily glances at Greece*

    • @JarmamStuff
      @JarmamStuff 3 роки тому +154

      *France, Spain, Italy and pretty much most if not all eurozone countries have entered the chat*

    • @pureaidswithmemes8053
      @pureaidswithmemes8053 3 роки тому +117

      Yes, I too, watched the video

    • @mariostanic7485
      @mariostanic7485 3 роки тому +15

      After resistance Socialists across Europe to set up crosses on the flag, one man Paul Levi, a Jew who converted to Catholicism and became president of journalistic office in the Council of Europe (founded in 1949) visiting the old continent. He realizes that in every major city there is a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, over whose head is 12 stars. Among the several hundred proposals remained just this, which was adopted at the end.

    • @marcusturner27
      @marcusturner27 3 роки тому +10

      @@mariostanic7485 Thanks for sharing

    • @raxi9619
      @raxi9619 3 роки тому +13

      We're sorry? 😅

  • @yeezyb7367
    @yeezyb7367 8 років тому +11216

    The EU has got some more space now... They now have 1'GB' free *sigh*

    • @monarchist1838
      @monarchist1838 8 років тому +275

      For the best. We have paid too much money in and lost too much sovereignty.

    • @JK_2998
      @JK_2998 8 років тому +428

      +Matt 18 Not sure about that, we essentially just gave our top job to Boris Johnson, even if we get more money from this, it wont be going to any of us.

    • @angryman3646
      @angryman3646 8 років тому +294

      Really Dr Matt and what made you such a great judge of exactly what sovereignty is (which is an impossible thing to answer), how much we have actually lost and how much value the UK actually gets from the EU (bearing in mind £120 billion was knocked of British companies today). You'd need a PhD on each of these to answer it properly. If you based your comment on anything in the papers you should be very angry as you have been lied to.

    • @Studio2770
      @Studio2770 8 років тому +58

      I see what you did there.

    • @violinistajay
      @violinistajay 8 років тому +21

      Nice comment XD

  • @ggwp638BC
    @ggwp638BC Рік тому +528

    Fun fact: thanks to French Guiana, France's largest continuous land border is actually with... Brazil.

  • @haraffael7821
    @haraffael7821 3 роки тому +497

    The Schengen agreement is the best. A friend of mine crossed the border by accident, while on Border Duty (looking for illegal migration) with the military (fully armed) and the local police there said "Dude, wrong side of the border, you should have turned left, not right." And laughing their asses off.

  • @patrickmeny1298
    @patrickmeny1298 5 років тому +1260

    “Check in any time they like but they can never stay”
    So reverse Hotel California.

  • @Wissenswert
    @Wissenswert 5 років тому +381

    you can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave - loved that reference.

  • @ClemensKatzer
    @ClemensKatzer 5 років тому +351

    The EU flag with asterisks instead of stars should have been the thumbnail of the video.

  • @CCABPSacsach
    @CCABPSacsach 4 роки тому +812

    “France, the queen of not letting go”
    Hmmm now where have I heard the reverse of that phrase before

  • @thespianed
    @thespianed 5 років тому +2179

    Ireland isn't in the Schengen area, not because they "believe Islands are different", but because the UK does, and so to prevent a border along Northern Ireland, we stuck with the UK. In the event of a united Ireland, I can see mass support for joining the Schengen area.

    • @viktorjoelsson6972
      @viktorjoelsson6972 5 років тому +136

      Honestly being able to just take your pastport and go anywhere with in the Schengen is awsome

    • @explorernate
      @explorernate 5 років тому +245

      Viktor Joelsson the point of schengen is that you don’t even need a passport. You just travel document free.

    • @calvinware7957
      @calvinware7957 5 років тому +54

      Disolve the UK

    • @swunt10
      @swunt10 5 років тому +74

      @@explorernate I think you need a document. otherwise you couldn't prove to be a european citizen. borders still exist and you need a passport or identity card to cross them even if most of the time nobody checks if you do. I have been controlled by german police when I entered from switzerland.

    • @explorernate
      @explorernate 5 років тому +77

      @@swunt10 Switzerland is not in the EU. That's why you were checked there. There are zero checks from Portugal to Poland, as long as you don't pass through Switzerland or the micro states between.

  • @simonu1612
    @simonu1612 5 років тому +2326

    "and lying about money is certainly not something anyone would do..." *zooms in on Greece
    Greece: "uh why is the camera pointed at me" *laughs nervously*

    • @jesusisthetruth4497
      @jesusisthetruth4497 5 років тому +1

      S Uhl o

    • @camirivera9278
      @camirivera9278 5 років тому +1

      that was epic

    • @IkelosEU
      @IkelosEU 5 років тому +1

      Yes the other countires were idiots. They didnt know the reality. Wake up

    • @IkelosEU
      @IkelosEU 5 років тому +13

      @Master Godlike did u learn English in school?

    • @vodkaboy
      @vodkaboy 5 років тому +1

      @Rupprecht Kurt Hasselbuttelmann-Fitzmeisterjaeger Rends l'argent*

  • @CNYoungboy
    @CNYoungboy 9 років тому +1810

    That closeup of Greece at 2:53 killed me pmsl

    • @chelseaonlyfansinstagram9961
      @chelseaonlyfansinstagram9961 9 років тому +74

      Cheers mate

    • @AgentIHD
      @AgentIHD 9 років тому +8

      +Iron Giant lol, ikr XD

    • @dikaiapanoglou1924
      @dikaiapanoglou1924 9 років тому +56

      +bernardobiritiki In Greece the situation is complicated. I want to explain but is too complicated xD
      Yes im Greek...
      Btw there is no country in the world without a debt. The problem in Greece is that the debt is huge and it's hard to take more loans, so no loans = risk for bankruptcy = The plp who gave loans will lose their money. So why cant Greece live without loans? Because the politicians cant handle money even though they teach to famous univericities ^^

    • @bernardobiritiki
      @bernardobiritiki 9 років тому +1

      +T Panos so is syrisa working out or no? i really really really hope it is

    • @dikaiapanoglou1924
      @dikaiapanoglou1924 9 років тому +26

      They are in power less than a year so is too early to judge. But my personal opinion is no, simple because their rivals agree with their dicision so something is wrong here ^^ just kidding. They did too many mistakes for example the hired again 400+ cleaners for the Ministry of Finance (btw the previous goverment fired them) and the parlament is the most expencive building (i talking about the staff who is working in there) in Greece (if not in Europe) but their paychecks is steady. If you count the politician wages (3500-5000 euros) is about 1.200.000 euros per month, and the guys who filing up water on the stand earn 1500 euro (when there is families who "living" with 600 euros) but of course the politicans reject these number and claim they are hungry too... Even their lies is bad! The parlament is working like for decades so that isnt syriza's fault but they can fix that if they wanted...
      And about that Grey said "that we lied about our economy to join the euro" isnt wrong, our pressident "cooked" our numbers but he never faced any charges ^^ Cool eh?

  • @mikikaboom9084
    @mikikaboom9084 3 роки тому +95

    0:26 "The edges of the EU will probably continue to expand further out"
    Britain: Uno reverse card

    • @Eliktro
      @Eliktro 3 роки тому +2

      nazwa prawdziwego polaka xd

  • @SwissTHX11384EB
    @SwissTHX11384EB 5 років тому +3741

    “The borders of the EU will probably continue to expand”
    Turkey lights up in green
    That didn't age well...

    • @vulpine3431
      @vulpine3431 4 роки тому +363

      As long as they keep insisting that northern Cyprus is a thing Greece will keep vetoing everything with them.
      Also throwing refugees and migrants into the borders isn't nice.

    • @EndietheEnderman
      @EndietheEnderman 4 роки тому +271

      @@vulpine3431 Greece doesn't even need to veto them. Cyprus can itself lol.
      I don't think Greece even cares what happens in Cyprus anymore really. They're mostly done with the island since now most of the population doesnt want to be part of Greece.
      And Greece still has lots of issues with Turkey like Imia / Kardak and their border.
      Most likely France and other countries would also veto them too, since they're not too happy on the migrants thing.

    • @maximwannabepro3021
      @maximwannabepro3021 4 роки тому +120

      @@EndietheEnderman and that's a good thing, since they aren't a democracy anymore

    • @Zappuify
      @Zappuify 4 роки тому +99

      VulpineKitsune Dude, Even if there was no issue called Cyprus, Turkey wouldn’t have been accepted. Because Turkey is not a European country, the population of which can change the power balance in EU. The another reason is the lack of interest by Turkish people towards EU. Turks have alienated themselves from Europe.
      Have a good day, from Turkey.

    • @edyslavico3761
      @edyslavico3761 4 роки тому +34

      @@maximwannabepro3021 true.
      Even if recently Hungary has stopped being a democracy more or less if I am not mistaken.

  • @deadvodka
    @deadvodka 4 роки тому +158

    If anybody is wondering about the choice of music, this part of Beethovens Symphony No. 9 (Ode to joy) was proposed in 1955 as the ECouncil anthem and accepted as such in 1972 without Schiller's German text though, and finally In 1985 as the EG/EU anthem officially acclaimed. There are versions in Latin and Esperanto, but they aren't officially accepted as the anthem.

    • @KingOfParrots
      @KingOfParrots 4 роки тому +3

      Thanks for googling that for me

    • @hellhound78
      @hellhound78 2 роки тому +6

      Freude schöner Götterfunken♪

    • @eatyouroranges6902
      @eatyouroranges6902 2 роки тому +2

      I knew I recognized it but I couldn’t figure out what it was!!!! Thank you :’)

    • @tyskerbarn5171
      @tyskerbarn5171 2 роки тому

      poor Beethoven...he would cry today about it.

    • @deadvodka
      @deadvodka 2 роки тому +6

      @@tyskerbarn5171 why do you think he would?

  • @Gabowsk
    @Gabowsk 4 роки тому +2394

    Anything political that's too complex to explain: **Exists**
    CGP: *_I T ' S A S T O R Y F O R A N O T H E R T I M E._*

    • @epamaarainenroina220
      @epamaarainenroina220 4 роки тому +19

      Almost every popular comment already has multiple troll answers about politics. Imagine if this vid _was_ about politics! Dear lord...

    • @Gabowsk
      @Gabowsk 4 роки тому +25

      @@epamaarainenroina220 You're 101% correct. Religion, politics and your local sports championship are things you can't discuss openly.

    • @trla6505
      @trla6505 3 роки тому +6

      CGP to himself :dont say that!

    • @neroquin
      @neroquin 3 роки тому +3

      Just like the Sprookjesboom in the Efteling.. how I miss you...

    • @anonymouscausewhynot
      @anonymouscausewhynot 2 роки тому +3

      And then he (almost) never explains it like a parent when they say “I’ll tell you when you’re older.”

  • @r.k.7663
    @r.k.7663 4 роки тому +261

    "Europe loves asterisks"
    Says the American*

    • @r.k.7663
      @r.k.7663 3 роки тому +14

      @@WhereTheCat No, he's Irish*

    • @averagejoe6031
      @averagejoe6031 3 роки тому +25

      @@r.k.7663 he’s Irish American born in America and grew up in America. He was simply had Irish citizenship via family (I think) and was able to live in London because of that. Long story short he’s and Irish American who lives in England.

    • @r.k.7663
      @r.k.7663 3 роки тому +9

      @@averagejoe6031 yeah, what I'm saying, american*(《there's an asterisk right there at the end, aymbolizing he's not really american, but, since he only has irish citizenship and does not really relate to ireland except that his dad's irish, we can call him american).

    • @STB4G
      @STB4G 3 роки тому +5

      Is it weird that these three symbols are in a triangle shape on the keyboard
      €£*

    • @cakeisyummy5755
      @cakeisyummy5755 3 роки тому

      @@STB4G It's a Brexit joke.

  • @КонстантинГеоргиев-и9ф

    Sweden doesn't actually have a permanent opt-out of the eurozone like Denmark does. Instead, it deliberately doesn't meet the criteria for joining.
    Basically, for a country to join the eurozone, its parliament should pass kind of a "Yes, we do actually want to join the eurozone" bill. The Swedish parliament just hasn't got around to doing it as of 2020, and considering the fact that most of Sweden's population are against adopting the euro, is likely not going to anytime soon.

    • @Elenrai
      @Elenrai 4 роки тому +37

      Denmarks voted down the Euro several times too, not enough bridges or royalty on the currency

    • @ericc1336
      @ericc1336 3 роки тому +25

      The German people would have never given up the Deutschmark had they been asked.

    • @redcoat4348
      @redcoat4348 3 роки тому +14

      @@ericc1336 Hell I'm pretty sure most Europeans don't want a federation, as much as the elite try.

    • @eamonreidy9534
      @eamonreidy9534 3 роки тому +79

      @@ericc1336 it was given up to reunify East and west Germany which people were actually massively in favour of. Learn history and stop talking stupidity in comments sections.

    • @ericc1336
      @ericc1336 3 роки тому +10

      @@eamonreidy9534I was in Germany when the wall fell. It only fell because we had a strong nato. And the ussr was coming apart. I know my history... I was there

  • @hydro0759
    @hydro0759 4 роки тому +2493

    The members of the EU are:
    Germany
    France
    United King-
    UK: *I’m gonna stop you right there*

    • @jamesfinch9987
      @jamesfinch9987 4 роки тому +37

      @Soller the Vault-Tec Salesman

    • @KnightoftheSorryFace
      @KnightoftheSorryFace 4 роки тому +16

      @@jamesfinch9987 ah, I see you are a man of culture

    • @tarmantgeorgio
      @tarmantgeorgio 4 роки тому +3

      tpi eu.

    • @rockb.g
      @rockb.g 4 роки тому +25

      Rule, Britannia! Britannia, rule the waves!
      Britons never, never, never shall be slaves.
      I'm not European I am British
      this way we voted to leave the European Union 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

    • @tarmantgeorgio
      @tarmantgeorgio 4 роки тому +2

      rULE IN TOULOUSE PREFECTURE 3LORS DELIGOT23 GRAMATICALLY 3 PARA 6LEGAL 3

  • @mollydewinter984
    @mollydewinter984 6 років тому +465

    When it zoomed in on Greece i died

  • @Scorpio-mq9dk
    @Scorpio-mq9dk 4 роки тому +64

    We learn almost nothing about the EU or European history in the US, so things like this are really useful

    • @MrCamille9999
      @MrCamille9999 3 роки тому +13

      What history do you learn about then ? Because no offense but your history is a bit short ^^

    • @agent_sus3273
      @agent_sus3273 3 роки тому +5

      @@MrCamille9999 revolutionary war, civil war, both world wars, French Revolution, etc.

    • @MrCamille9999
      @MrCamille9999 3 роки тому +23

      @@agent_sus3273 I mean in Europe we pretty much start from the beginning of mankind and progressively make our way to the 21st century: apparition of writing, ancient civilizations (mostly Greece and Rome), middle ages and renaissance (mostly in Europe) and from this point we include the rest of the world more and more. From what you're telling me you only study the last 3 centuries at most...

    • @carsonchiem145
      @carsonchiem145 3 роки тому +6

      Dude we literally have a course in high school called AP European History for students to take..... I took it and idk if you'll believe me, but I learned a little about European history

    • @MrCamille9999
      @MrCamille9999 3 роки тому +5

      @@carsonchiem145 So history is optional in highschool in the US?

  • @Thermonuclear_Waifuisation
    @Thermonuclear_Waifuisation 4 роки тому +420

    Grey “The QUEEN of not letting go”
    France: bad choice of words

  • @GloriousMushroom
    @GloriousMushroom 8 років тому +465

    The zooming in on Greece was marvelous!

    • @apophis8659
      @apophis8659 7 років тому +19

      Farion Long I live in Greece... And I can't stop laughing and crying at the same time 😂🤣😭

    • @Archeaon
      @Archeaon 6 років тому +9

      as an italian we kind of did a similar thing, we did not lie but cheated drugging our data to be able to take the euro, meanwhile they just falsified it. Just feeling excluded for not being mentioned :(

    • @AntiAtheismIsUnstoppable
      @AntiAtheismIsUnstoppable 6 років тому

      *What is the EU Caliphate?*
      The EU Caliphate is a theocratic dictatorship much like ISIS, run by German dictator Ayathollah Merkel
      *_DENMARK OUT OF EU CALIPHATE_*

  • @vhsjpdfg
    @vhsjpdfg 8 років тому +358

    "A bottomless well of asterisks."

    • @Pieh0
      @Pieh0 8 років тому +6

      Otherwise known as a bottomless well of shit

    • @Feuermagier1337
      @Feuermagier1337 8 років тому +12

      Better than War.

    • @Pieh0
      @Pieh0 8 років тому +4

      Valentin Metz Yes, and we must thank NATO for that.

    • @ltpierce1
      @ltpierce1 8 років тому

      the eu is more of an extension of the alliance between countries really

    • @Elektrochemistry
      @Elektrochemistry 8 років тому

      +Weegee Productions Indeed, even more restrictions (like the 'anti-terror chemicals', e.a. hydrogen peroxide is banned, nitrate fertilizers are banned,..), the retail had less income because of that and the result of those restrictions where mass bombing, like in Paris and Brussels and a huge black market. In contrast with the USD the euro have a fixed value, which is stupid and the reason why the economy in the eurozone dropped, maintaining these imperial European buildings (lobbying is impossible with the EU) is very expensive, in contrast to the US there are simply too many languages to learn to make it possible to work in say Denmark if Belgium is too small. Finally, the results of the lack of Border control are huge amounts of refugees that leave their country because Europe and the US will raid them for oil. Politicians are 'FOR' their own seat.

  • @sueKay
    @sueKay 2 роки тому +22

    I'm here since I watched a few reaction videos to it so felt I should watch the OG. I love watching non Europeans getting so confused by this video because I studied the EU for years at uni so I had every opportunity and plenty of time to absorb all the EU's weirdness. But it's still a little mindblowing seeing it all condensed down into a video!

  • @DozyBinsh
    @DozyBinsh 4 роки тому +478

    Grey: Asterix
    Me, an intellectual: Obelix

    • @jaojao1768
      @jaojao1768 4 роки тому +5

      Made me chuckle

    • @appleslover
      @appleslover 4 роки тому

      ?

    • @maximwannabepro3021
      @maximwannabepro3021 4 роки тому +35

      @@appleslover how dark u world must be if u don't no Asterix, Obelix and Idefix

    • @appleslover
      @appleslover 4 роки тому +2

      @@maximwannabepro3021 not that dark due to the fact that English isn't my first language

    • @Wawawawawa343
      @Wawawawawa343 4 роки тому +23

      apple's lover lol its actually french

  • @Partyaap050
    @Partyaap050 10 років тому +210

    Pissed my pants when you zoomed in on Greece.

    • @adrianafrompiraeus8724
      @adrianafrompiraeus8724 10 років тому

      Unkel Dolan And i LMAO when i see your face :) ugly, uneductaed looser!

    • @VintageLJ
      @VintageLJ 10 років тому +31

      adriana '93 So... you are Greek/Cypriot?
      He didn't lie, so there is no reason for you to be all nationalistic. Nationalism generally leads to suffering.

  • @FAYBELLEchon
    @FAYBELLEchon 5 років тому +1196

    "these asterisks almost never end, but this video must-"

    • @Phoenix_The_HeroHater
      @Phoenix_The_HeroHater 4 роки тому +27

      *Except for the UK

    • @maximwannabepro3021
      @maximwannabepro3021 4 роки тому +1

      @@Phoenix_The_HeroHater meh, depends on how u wanna trade in the future :)

    • @Phoenix_The_HeroHater
      @Phoenix_The_HeroHater 4 роки тому +1

      Maxim WannaBePros hopefully the UK still keeps close ties

    • @maximwannabepro3021
      @maximwannabepro3021 4 роки тому +1

      @@Phoenix_The_HeroHater would be better for relations and people. But makes the braxit opsolet again. I can see why they are a year over shadual with the bill. (and weirdly enough I'd be proud if the Union Jack would sill be a star on the EU flag, even thought I'm german)

    • @Phoenix_The_HeroHater
      @Phoenix_The_HeroHater 4 роки тому +1

      Maxim WannaBePros I agree mostly and due to brexit and their insistence of not continuing some ties makes me a bit sad but negotiations are still yet to be discussed with the other eu states so perhaps there may be an agreement for the UK specifically but it’s just as likely for actual total 100% brexit from the eu which sucks but let’s wait and see

  • @turnoffautoplay
    @turnoffautoplay 4 роки тому +45

    For those of you who need it here's a list of all the countries he says: Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Poland, Romania, Kingdom of Netherlands, Greece, Belgium, Portugal, Czech Republic, Hungary, Sweden, Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Slovakia, Finland, Ireland, Croatia, Lithuania, Latvia, Slovenia, Estonia, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Malta

  • @anonymoususer6237
    @anonymoususer6237 6 років тому +4076

    Britain left the chat

    • @willokeefe1135
      @willokeefe1135 5 років тому +77

      Genius Goblin ignorance is bliss

    • @painzkiller2452
      @painzkiller2452 5 років тому +40

      @Genius Goblin Time will tell, and let's see who's the surprised one :D

    • @patu2175
      @patu2175 5 років тому +1

      We'll see about that

    • @paolotangini9336
      @paolotangini9336 5 років тому +4

      Benjamin Wickers Elena No This is a phrase that I invite you to copy and paste everywhere!
      European union (regime) is based on 3 columns:
      1) PUBLIC DEBT CREATED BY NOTHING TO TAKE UP DEMOCRACIES
      2) ARTIFICIAL IMMIGRATION TO lower workers' salaries
      3) HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT FOR THE STABILITY OF PRICES
      The ECB is PRIVATE the euro is PRIVATE
      ALL THE MONEY IN CIRCULATION = public debt
      THIS IS THE REAL REACTION OF THE MARKETS!

    • @ineedanamebutthisisntcapit4817
      @ineedanamebutthisisntcapit4817 5 років тому +4

      Help
      It’s
      Still
      Not
      Done
      Yet

  • @fhoertnagl2000
    @fhoertnagl2000 7 років тому +218

    Holy sh*t, I just randomly clicked this video, and when the picture at 2:02 appeared, I immediately recognised it. The sign is just behind my village, and I have driven by it many times. Thanks for that, Internet

    • @grzegorzbrzeczyszykiewic3338
      @grzegorzbrzeczyszykiewic3338 6 років тому +18

      please explain what a fucking mother heater is mr sebilo

    • @spectratio
      @spectratio 6 років тому +4

      @@grzegorzbrzeczyszykiewic3338 i need an answer for this

    • @David_Box
      @David_Box 6 років тому

      Where is that thing?

    • @thiccardboyle2952
      @thiccardboyle2952 6 років тому +1

      @@Antoine-lx3pf we nee cgp grey to make a video on this heater thing

    • @fhoertnagl2000
      @fhoertnagl2000 6 років тому +1

      @@David_Box in bavaria, obviously

  • @morezco
    @morezco 8 років тому +782

    It's been 4 years grey WHERE'S THE STORY FOR ANOTHER TIME?

    • @Velociter
      @Velociter 7 років тому +52

      Guilherme Moresco he just says that. He doesn't really mean he'll make a video about it later.

    • @psltmtir
      @psltmtir 7 років тому +3

      dude its a joke

    • @nickcameron4107
      @nickcameron4107 7 років тому +11

      CGP Grey pretty much never uploads anything if he's not happy with it, which means his content quality is very high

    • @kevinvu5432
      @kevinvu5432 7 років тому +6

      This isn't how I met your mother.

    • @AntiAtheismIsUnstoppable
      @AntiAtheismIsUnstoppable 7 років тому +1

      EU, the Caliphate that ISIS dreamt of.

  • @averagejoe6031
    @averagejoe6031 4 роки тому +101

    I love how the EU’s theme is Ode To Joy.

    • @edipires15
      @edipires15 3 роки тому +13

      Well it’s the official anthem of the EU

    • @averagejoe6031
      @averagejoe6031 3 роки тому +9

      @@edipires15 yeah, that’s what I said. I’m saying I like that.

    • @Cybernaut551
      @Cybernaut551 3 роки тому +2

      I like it as well.

  • @jeroenvanvelzen4401
    @jeroenvanvelzen4401 6 років тому +1474

    Germany
    France
    The UK
    Italy
    Spain
    Poland
    *The Kingdom of the Netherlands*
    Dang we extra af

    • @jakubcesarzdakos5442
      @jakubcesarzdakos5442 6 років тому +19

      I think you missed something...

    • @josh-gt9fm
      @josh-gt9fm 6 років тому +141

      there’s also the united kingdom of great britain and northern ireland. if that isn’t extra then nothing is

    • @neine999
      @neine999 6 років тому +65

      Well it's because just saying the netherlands would only be referring to the european parts, while the kingdom of the netherlands includes certain territories overseas

    • @jeroenvanvelzen4401
      @jeroenvanvelzen4401 6 років тому

      Napoleon Bonaparte I know that.

    • @galgonso
      @galgonso 6 років тому +15

      Spain is actually the kingdom of Spain and he didnt say anything :(

  • @TheCheesyNachos
    @TheCheesyNachos 8 років тому +91

    about time this is updated

    • @wayneryanhalim7036
      @wayneryanhalim7036 8 років тому +7

      I was looking for this comment😂

    • @Studio2770
      @Studio2770 8 років тому

      Not so fast since other countries are thinking of doing the same thing.

    • @ahmaquindi
      @ahmaquindi 8 років тому +6

      not really, since the whole procedure is going to take a helluva time.

    • @Haedor
      @Haedor 8 років тому +16

      Why update when nothing has changed? GB hasnt signed Article 50 yet and will not do so as long as possible.

    • @liamolaoghaire
      @liamolaoghaire 8 років тому +1

      The UK hasn't left yet

  • @Mulaaks15
    @Mulaaks15 7 років тому +61

    Minor detail: You don't lose your EU-citizenship if you live in the Faroe Islands (a tiny part of Denmark), because there is no "Faroese citizenship", only "Danish Citizenship". So while EU laws and regulations don't apply to the Faroe Islands, a Faroe Islander/Dane who lives there regains their EU citizenship when they leave the territory.

    • @SirMonday
      @SirMonday 2 роки тому +14

      I assume that's why his careful word usage in that section was "upon which *while* citizens of Denmark live", the "while" implying that it persists only for the duration of residency.

  • @Intrinseque52
    @Intrinseque52 3 роки тому +70

    3:57 those regions don't want to leave France. Ironically, you forgot the only regions where an higher degree of autonomy is debated, the French Polynesia.

  • @buhdahto
    @buhdahto 6 років тому +179

    Switzerland is part of the European Free Trade Association, as are Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. By agreement, Swiss citizens are allowed to live in EU/EEA countries. Conversely, all EU/EEA citizens are allowed to live in Switzerland.

    • @HoaNguyen-zl5hs
      @HoaNguyen-zl5hs 6 років тому +4

      Buhdahto so they are technically in the EU, accept they dont have to go through endless regulations...

    • @meandmetoo8436
      @meandmetoo8436 5 років тому +24

      @@HoaNguyen-zl5hs and can't vote EU laws.

    • @edipires15
      @edipires15 5 років тому +6

      Hoa Nguyen no Switzerland isn’t in the EU period.

    • @meandmetoo8436
      @meandmetoo8436 5 років тому +8

      @@edipires15 you swiss are in denial, same as the Norwegian.
      Your countries cannot exist without accepting EU regulations, and your politics perfectly know that.
      In fact you have nothing to lose and everything to win by entering the EU (because then you would be able to actually vote on the laws, and no, you don't have to take the €.)

    • @edipires15
      @edipires15 5 років тому +12

      Me AndMeToo first the all, I’m not Swiss nor Norwegian, I’m an EU citizen and proud of it.
      2nd Switzerland has a way of governance which is incompatible with the EU. The cantons have a great level of autonomy that would be lost if they ever join the EU. And they have referendums for everything, so one canton can singlehandly block an entire EU initiative (like Wallonia did when CETA was negociated).
      Lastly, I think you sir are in denial: Switzerland has lived 400 years with their own regulations, if they participate in some European projects (like the Schengen area) they have done of their own free will, no one has imposed them anything.
      Oh and joining the Euro is a requirement for entering the EU (when conditions apply of course)

  • @aristerosgiatros8742
    @aristerosgiatros8742 6 років тому +50

    Thanks for the reference
    -greek person, 2018

  • @foorack
    @foorack 7 років тому +172

    Sweden does not have an opt-out from the euro. They are legally obliged to adopt it, but a referendum in 2003 voted 56% no so the government has intentionally avoided fulfilling the economic criterias ever since.

    • @chahinmorsli7018
      @chahinmorsli7018 6 років тому +16

      Damn Sweden is sneaky af 😂😂

    • @celestialtree8602
      @celestialtree8602 6 років тому +48

      "Hey Sweden, reached those economic goals yet?"
      "Nope"
      "Why not?"
      "uhh"
      "Well?"
      "uuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhh"

    • @Anonymous-df8it
      @Anonymous-df8it 2 роки тому +3

      Is that even legal?

    • @JJLiu-xc3kg
      @JJLiu-xc3kg 2 роки тому +13

      @@Anonymous-df8it Montenegro just uses the euro without permission and nobody’s really done anything about it…Sweden NOT using it vs Montenegro just deciding to…

    • @karanaima
      @karanaima 2 роки тому +6

      Imagine if they accidentally succeed in meeting the criteria

  • @123batina
    @123batina Рік тому +27

    Update to video: Croatia joined eurozone and schengen area on 01.01.2023.

  • @wetasspaddington
    @wetasspaddington 5 років тому +286

    I get that very subtle reference in the music. It's Ode to Joy, the Official Anthem of the EU.

    • @anselmschueler
      @anselmschueler 5 років тому +68

      wow very subtle

    • @ENGLISHMURPHY
      @ENGLISHMURPHY 5 років тому +2

      I thought only countries have official anthems.....

    • @tevildo7718
      @tevildo7718 5 років тому +15

      ​@@ENGLISHMURPHY The EU is complicated due to its nature as a political-economic union that has no real precedent in history or any real firm term for what they are. (IE they are not just a multinational organization), they are not a confederation because confederations are generally much looser and less centralized than the EU is (which is more a statement of how little control there is in a confederation than anything) and its certainly not a nation-state but at the same time the EU is often treated as a nation-state due to its influence for example up till relatively recently EU ambassadors to the US were in the same category as ambassadors from nation-states rather than international organizations.

    • @Zen-rw2fz
      @Zen-rw2fz 5 років тому +2

      @@tevildo7718 It started as union and only recently gained the political power it has now and yet they managed to keep itself as democratic as possible.

    • @kokki1452
      @kokki1452 5 років тому +1

      @@Zen-rw2fz * democratic enough that nothing went up in flames. **EU sure likes their asterisks

  • @peturkristinsson9463
    @peturkristinsson9463 8 років тому +336

    1:26 the chick on the Icelandic money has a nice hat.

  • @PrincessLockette
    @PrincessLockette 9 років тому +91

    3:33 uh, actually Lithuania and Latvia ARE in the Eurozone and Poland ISN'T in the Eurozone.

    • @Daleks172
      @Daleks172 9 років тому +14

      +PrincessLockette old video

    • @libanabdi2253
      @libanabdi2253 9 років тому +36

      +PrincessLockette It's not on there because they joined after this video was made, however you're right about Poland because they have never been a part of the Eurozone.

    • @GlowingHorror
      @GlowingHorror 8 років тому +4

      Actually this video was made in 2013 and Latvia and Lithuania didn't have the Euro at the time. But You're completely right about Poland.

    • @kacperszyniec8622
      @kacperszyniec8622 8 років тому

      +PrincessLockette thank you

    • @kacperszyniec8622
      @kacperszyniec8622 8 років тому

      +Liban Ibrahim Abdi And never will :p

  • @ballinbalgruuf8198
    @ballinbalgruuf8198 4 роки тому +13

    2:23 You can check in anytime you like but you can never stay
    *Awesome guitar solo starts*

    • @ryker9522
      @ryker9522 3 роки тому +4

      Welcome to the hotel California!

  • @AtemiRaven
    @AtemiRaven 10 років тому +218

    What's interesting:
    The USA was originally meant to be something like the EU: a confederacy of what was essentially self governing countries under a relatively weak central body. It too would have been terribly complex.
    Of course we all know that didn't end up happening, and "States," actually ended up being provinces within a strong armed central government.

    • @stareyedwitch
      @stareyedwitch 10 років тому +18

      Which side (state/provinces or the federal government) got the worse end of the deal is the question

    • @AtemiRaven
      @AtemiRaven 10 років тому +7

      stareyedwitch
      It's all a matter of perspective.

    • @Inkyminkyzizwoz
      @Inkyminkyzizwoz 10 років тому +1

      stareyedwitch That'd be an interesting topic for another video!

    • @itube612
      @itube612 10 років тому +47

      the political diversity is the biggest glitch of the EU. EU is comparable with US in many ways, but we will never become a superpower of major relevance on the world map unless we get further federalized and get more centralized federal power. I am ok with our strongest armies having just a fraction of the U.S. military budget. We never set a goal of policing world, we also may not be the best guy to do it as some of our countries had colonies in the past. Our role is rather to mediate peace and diffuse conflicts by dimplomatic means. When that fails, it's good to know our stronger brother has our backs. And vice versa. We're happy to be your allies within NATO and co-operate when you guys need our help.

    • @vernement4752
      @vernement4752 10 років тому +4

      And that's the ultimate european project, but there is a language wall and a country identity too strong.

  • @KishoreShenoy1994
    @KishoreShenoy1994 9 років тому +239

    As a British citizen, I like Europe.
    The majority of the songs are very good, including:
    "It's the FINAL COUNTDOWN"

    • @squizza28
      @squizza28 9 років тому +13

      The British people are sick and tired
      of being the cash cow for this corrupt organisation that has not had its
      accounts audited for 20 years. Of course, being the dictatorship it is, it
      is above the law. We don't need the contribution of £20 bn a year, the stupid
      regulations, the mass uncontrolled immigration from poor east European
      countries, and our Government not being supreme over the EU, and the ban on
      doing our own trade deals with the rest of the world. . It's not in our
      interests to be in the EU and we're getting out.

    • @Robbedem
      @Robbedem 9 років тому +34

      +squizza28 I hope you realise that The British pay less in comparison to other wealthy EU nations already? As a non-Brit EU citizen, I hope the unjust benefits for the Brits will be removed.

    • @sednaontheedge9478
      @sednaontheedge9478 9 років тому +13

      +Robbedem WRONG with a bell chime. Britain is the 2nd biggest donor after Germany and we get less out than we put in unlike the French. Also we practically militarily defend the EU for free since we're NATOs 2nd largest military contributor. We could build a hospital every week for the money we put in and all we get back is benefit cheats from the east. I want my nation back because it was fraudulently stolen by stealth.

    • @Kai-tn4yx
      @Kai-tn4yx 9 років тому +12

      +squizza28
      Cash cow? You already have the UK rebates (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_rebate), which all other members don't have. However, you are right: Most of us other Europeans see the UK mainly as the Trojan Horse of the USA (like Charles de Gaulle already warned in the 1960s), spying on your friends ("Fife Eyes" etc.) and always complaining while contributing nothing. You can try to live as an isolated island, out of the common market, with the EU taxing all your goods. :) We won't miss those of you who are anti-European.

    • @Kai-tn4yx
      @Kai-tn4yx 9 років тому +8

      +Sedna On the Edge
      When did Britain ever "defend" an EU country? Never.

  • @thatonewriter8043
    @thatonewriter8043 8 років тому +217

    "Though lying about those goals is certainly not something anyone would do." *slow zoom to Greece*
    Before macroeconomics, I wouldn't have gotten that joke, but after writing a paper on the Greek financial crisis, I know significantly more about that. It's one of those jokes that you laugh at, then get sadder about the longer you think about it.

    • @irthamepali
      @irthamepali 7 років тому

      ThatOneWriter fml

    • @mustafa-cx2fg
      @mustafa-cx2fg 7 років тому +2

      please i have zero prior knowledge about economics , but I want to start learning about it. Could you refer me to some beginner resources ?

    • @luftwaffle3566
      @luftwaffle3566 6 років тому

      The internet is the solution. Just search randomly, you're bound to find something!

  • @grzesiekbiskowski
    @grzesiekbiskowski 3 роки тому +10

    It's worth mentioning that Poland is (and was) outside of the eurozone in 3:25

  • @EirikXL
    @EirikXL 8 років тому +78

    1:26 Lichtenstein money looks like an action film

  • @MegaFeeso
    @MegaFeeso 8 років тому +1973

    One more asterisk to add now since the uk just left...

    • @alwinpriven2400
      @alwinpriven2400 8 років тому +121

      or remove, because now there's no need for "UK keeps Pound forever"

    • @jonathanCRoberts
      @jonathanCRoberts 8 років тому +12

      +Alwin Priven Switzerland has a friend now

    • @alwinpriven2400
      @alwinpriven2400 8 років тому +4

      why?

    • @Tharkon
      @Tharkon 8 років тому +26

      Switzerland is part of Schengen, the UK is not.

    • @alwinpriven2400
      @alwinpriven2400 8 років тому +7

      why Sweden? they didn't leave, did they?

  • @jubbybrab
    @jubbybrab 7 років тому +616

    ...EU's flag should actually be asterisks instead of stars. Literally

    • @diablo.the.cheater
      @diablo.the.cheater 6 років тому +43

      those are not stars, just fat asterisks

    •  6 років тому +7

      Did you know that the yellow stars were inspired on the Virgin Mary's crown with the blue heavens as a background? Therefore I don't see the fckin link between Islam and the EU

    • @AntiAtheismIsUnstoppable
      @AntiAtheismIsUnstoppable 6 років тому +14

      *FUN FACTS*
      0 out of 100 leftists have any understanding of islam in any form
      100% of leftists want islamic law to replace Democracy

    • @isaks7042
      @isaks7042 6 років тому +20

      FUN FACT
      You are wrong

    • @Nihil0s
      @Nihil0s 6 років тому

      LITERALLY OH YOU SO FUNNY LITERAL

  • @beactivebehappy9894
    @beactivebehappy9894 4 роки тому +26

    I think you could make a 24-hour clip playlist of all the stories that you have kept for another video!

  • @michaelluke2000
    @michaelluke2000 11 років тому +22

    Please make a video on the issues in the Middle East. I understand that is extremely broad, but I think it is one of the most important topics today. Please give this suggestion a thumbs up so that CGP Grey can see it!

  • @minefilms1122
    @minefilms1122 8 років тому +161

    EXCEPTIONS EXCEPTIONS EXCEPTIONS
    MORE EXCEPTIONS
    I WANT THEM
    GIVE ME MORE ASTERISKS

  • @kalimbatuna6462
    @kalimbatuna6462 10 років тому +112

    I love how he zooms in on Greece.

  • @NorroTaku
    @NorroTaku 3 роки тому +61

    teacher: where is the European union?
    student: *points at heart*

  • @chris_cloud
    @chris_cloud 4 роки тому +38

    3:32
    * for Poland as well - Poland is kind of in Eurozone, but not really. Poland does still use Polish Zloty [PLN] as currency since polish people voted couple years ago about NOT switching to euro (as it could very much impact internal economy as it happened in Germany).

    • @cana0
      @cana0 3 роки тому

      Italian economy has been badly damaged by euro

    • @byzantineJesusLov3R
      @byzantineJesusLov3R 2 роки тому +6

      What do you mean by "Kind of" in the Eurozone?? Poland isn't part of the Eurozone. They use the Złoty and don't have any ambitions of switching any time soon...

  • @Ling74750
    @Ling74750 10 років тому +230

    The EU might have some economic problems today and it is far from perfect but nontheless I love the concept of the EU and I think it is a great thing. I really hope that the current anti EU movements in many countries will come to an end and the concept of a united, prosperous and open European Union remains.
    I am so proud to be German an European at the same time.

    • @PhysiOSQuantum
      @PhysiOSQuantum 9 років тому +38

      I am pro-Euro although I believe we just miss one key thing for the union, that is fiscal union. Goodbye unbalanced spending, hello US of Europe.
      I am Portuguese and if Portugal EVER leaves the EU I will burn down the parliament with molotovs.

    • @Ling74750
      @Ling74750 9 років тому +11

      I see your point. That might really be much better. I would even be very sad if any country at all leaves the EU

    • @PhysiOSQuantum
      @PhysiOSQuantum 9 років тому +8

      Serbian Mino If you ever knew what the EU was you would never say that anyhow it isn't like I could change the world of the euro-skeptics, sometimes I think they live in a different world. By the way troll much?

    • @Ling74750
      @Ling74750 9 років тому +38

      mrdean171 I think you just mistook us for the Americans.

    • @PhysiOSQuantum
      @PhysiOSQuantum 9 років тому +8

      mrdean171 How can you speak of something you don't know. Also I wasn't speaking about culture I was speaking about the EU as in European Union. Better yet you must have mistaken us by the Americans, America =/= Europe this applies to it's politics, culture and people.

  • @penguincamp
    @penguincamp 8 років тому +385

    While some borders are clean, and some are well-patrolled, mine is considering building a giant wall and making others pay for it.

    • @firasalboni3787
      @firasalboni3787 8 років тому +68

      Is your country Hungary or USA?

    • @edi0157
      @edi0157 8 років тому +4

      +firas alboni lol

    • @juttuikaverit
      @juttuikaverit 8 років тому +53

      EU borders are far from clean, they were great before the refugee crisis, but at the moment it's ridicilous that people outside of EU can move around without a problem, I think a lot of americans really dont know what's really going on.

    • @josephfox9221
      @josephfox9221 8 років тому +26

      +Twat Pitt as an American I have no idea what y'all are doing. as far as I can tell Germany want the refugees but doesnt really want them in Germany. the French are complaining. no one is sure why they are complaining, the Italians are pissed off but no one cares. and the British Government says it wants them then at the last moment changes its mind

    • @moonknightish
      @moonknightish 8 років тому +2

      I guess he is Austrian.

  • @rapterranger771
    @rapterranger771 3 роки тому +4

    Dude, I watch this channel on my own volition and my AP Gov teacher played this video during class. I was pleasantly surprised. Usually it’s something boring and unengaging.

  • @SmileyNoteblock
    @SmileyNoteblock 6 років тому +400

    American text
    *European text*

    • @billy_boi
      @billy_boi 6 років тому +17

      *dies of fucking cancer because this is so stupid in Croatian

    • @SmileyNoteblock
      @SmileyNoteblock 6 років тому +17

      *Doesn't live in the EU but gets affected by the meme ban because of the EEA in Norwegian

    • @bigman489
      @bigman489 5 років тому +4

      *Nah, Muricaa Fuck Yeaahh*

    • @shirosocool2938
      @shirosocool2938 5 років тому +4

      *laughs in asian *

    • @bigman489
      @bigman489 5 років тому +1

      Zorux Yes Asian is a language yes.

  • @carel_dfx
    @carel_dfx 4 роки тому +81

    3:42 Correction: while the Reconquista, Castille and Portugal had conquered Açores, Maderia and Canary Islands before the discover of America, making it technically not part from the colonial empire. In this case you must talk about the french oversea departments and Holland's american islands, which are really taking during the colonial times and currently are colonies from France/Holland

  • @steficristian6003
    @steficristian6003 7 років тому +179

    "Unclear boundary" Weren't the Ural Mountains the ones that separated Europe from Asia?

    • @finnishfinn904
      @finnishfinn904 7 років тому +23

      Stefi Cristian Ural Mountains, Ural River, Caspian Sea, Caucasus, Black Sea, Istanbul, Meditterenian, Gibraltar, Atlantic and Arctic Ocean

    • @AntiAtheismIsUnstoppable
      @AntiAtheismIsUnstoppable 6 років тому +5

      *Ayathollah Merkel: **_"MAKE EUROPE ISLAMIC AGAIN"_*

    • @lindaa7373
      @lindaa7373 6 років тому +3

      Europe isn't a continent lol do you see water between it in Asia?

    • @MarkusAldawn
      @MarkusAldawn 6 років тому +15

      Technically it's a peninsula.
      But in that case, seeing as the Suez and Panama canals are both man-made, technically there is only one America, and an Afro-Eurasian supercontinent.

    • @lindaa7373
      @lindaa7373 6 років тому

      Markus Aldawn i mean yea but at least it’s water no matter who made it happen. there is no water barrier between europe and asia

  • @santiagopf8008
    @santiagopf8008 3 роки тому +4

    2:17
    Anyone else got the reference to the music Hotel California from Eagles?
    "You can check-out any time you like,
    But you can never leave!"

  • @kingbibihabibi
    @kingbibihabibi 4 роки тому +52

    0:13 Well, time for an update!

  • @zoecastillo632
    @zoecastillo632 8 років тому +37

    As a European I have to admit, I do love a good asterisk.

  • @benjaminxie2037
    @benjaminxie2037 4 роки тому +69

    7 years and I'm still waiting for a CGP Grey video on how the EU works as promised 🤣

  • @matthiaswelzel8447
    @matthiaswelzel8447 Рік тому +5

    2:22 reference to Hotel California from the Eagles:
    "You can check out any time you like
    but you can never leave."
    Nice.😀

  • @irishdc9523
    @irishdc9523 5 років тому +185

    It's unlikely Turkey will become a member anytime soon. The main reason why is members require a dedication to human rights

    • @LovePrayGame
      @LovePrayGame 5 років тому +20

      D Dog 2015 they would never be allowed since they border countries like iraq , syria and iran which the eu obviously dosent want to border them.

    • @yeti6347
      @yeti6347 5 років тому +13

      @@LovePrayGame It's obviously due to Cyprus

    • @kaznjenik111
      @kaznjenik111 5 років тому +10

      Fuck EU!!
      🇹🇷 🇹🇷

    • @cenkdal4637
      @cenkdal4637 5 років тому +12

      @@yeti6347 In 1974 they killed thousands of turks. Turkey intervened. Europe says occupation.

    • @yeti6347
      @yeti6347 5 років тому +3

      @@cenkdal4637 I didn't mention how I think of the situation and I'm still not doing it

  • @Twiggy163
    @Twiggy163 10 років тому +28

    I started laughing when he started talking about financial goals while zooming in on Greece.

  • @CoolieCoolster
    @CoolieCoolster 9 років тому +77

    Didn't see anyone mention it but Creeper at 0:42

    • @phantompizza
      @phantompizza 8 років тому +18

      +Marc Cosgaya Capel And of course the people with mine craft icons as there profile pictures noticed it.

    • @Ajek-ui4yw
      @Ajek-ui4yw 8 років тому

      +CoolieCoolster yep

    • @adambennett805
      @adambennett805 8 років тому +1

      Because no one cares

    • @Talleyhoooo
      @Talleyhoooo 8 років тому

      +CoolieCoolster naw, too pixelated.

    • @ThornMu
      @ThornMu 8 років тому

      +CoolieCoolster Took a while to find it. At first I thought you were just referring to one of two women's green suit coats.

  • @bobing1752
    @bobing1752 4 роки тому +6

    1:31 I like how there's no asterisk on "Thank you for your money" but there's one on "Now we're going to make rules you follow*"

  • @Fatihturk0071
    @Fatihturk0071 4 роки тому +347

    *UK has left the server*

    • @monolithgeometry3221
      @monolithgeometry3221 4 роки тому +6

      the EU sounds like progressive garbage...

    • @darthsawlex8257
      @darthsawlex8257 4 роки тому +7

      @@monolithgeometry3221 That's because it is.

    • @Sheridan2LT
      @Sheridan2LT 4 роки тому

      Fuck yo all tbh

    • @scrwd4568
      @scrwd4568 4 роки тому +3

      @Polish Hero Witold Pilecki The sheer confidence of your claim astounds me. Why do you think a powerhouse as big as the EU, who is in the world's top three economies, would suddenly tear itself apart because one member left? And what's this about free trade agreement and one single market? Wasnt that exactly what the EU was about, before and after you guys left?

    • @scrwd4568
      @scrwd4568 4 роки тому +2

      @Polish Hero Witold Pilecki Can you give better concrete reasons? And what do you mean by "United states of Europe" ?

  • @ChristmasTrax
    @ChristmasTrax 9 років тому +272

    I didn't realise I was able to move to Norway. I'm off to pack my bags. Good bye Britain!

    • @nikg8052
      @nikg8052 9 років тому +51

      ChristmasTrax Well if some Brits get their way, you will have to move back soon.

    • @ethanquirk28
      @ethanquirk28 9 років тому +7

      By now its a bit more than some.

    • @Keloot
      @Keloot 9 років тому

      ChristmasTrax there are a lot of brist in norway lol

    • @ChristmasTrax
      @ChristmasTrax 9 років тому +3

      Ethan Quirk I don't think there is to be honest. When you look at say a 1,000 idiots on there own it looks like a lot until you realise everyone else isn't so utterly brainless to feel the need to blame everything on immigrants

    • @ethanquirk28
      @ethanquirk28 9 років тому

      ChristmasTrax What you just said has no merit in argument to what I have said, as there are a lot more than just 1000 idiots in Britain. They are also not the only ones with the opinion

  • @DeusExMachinae01
    @DeusExMachinae01 10 років тому +516

    I like being in EU. It has made traveling a lot easier inside of EU. Also a strong currency has made it cheaper to travel outside of EU.
    Sure, it's not perfect, but generally it has helped the countries in it (the recession we have now traces back to the US and the global economic system and is being unjustly blamed to something EU has done).
    Then again, I'm not a nationalist, which I think is the real reason people oppose the EU.

    • @guikt100
      @guikt100 10 років тому +172

      Must of the people are like you. In my life i seem to be less Portuguese and more European, and i like it. It's like, my nationality is European but my culture is Portuguese. This is the future of Europe, a more tigh federal union where we are all one.

    • @DeusExMachinae01
      @DeusExMachinae01 10 років тому +76

      Yeah too bad that us moderates don't usually speak out. Glad that we did :)

    • @DontFearTheWolf666
      @DontFearTheWolf666 10 років тому +27

      Sorry to break on your parade but once UK leaves EU will start falling apart.

    • @ohauss
      @ohauss 10 років тому +111

      NJ K Sorry to break on your parade, but that's some hilarious delusions of grandeur you have.

    • @DontFearTheWolf666
      @DontFearTheWolf666 10 років тому +18

      It's not a hilarious delusion but a likely outcome considering UK is the 4th contributor to the EU and when UK leaves EU will likely fall.

  • @mendesjosr4438
    @mendesjosr4438 3 роки тому +55

    Azores and Madeira haven't been considered colonies since the XVI century. They were populated by continental portuguese (and some flemish in the azores) with the full rights of any portuguese subject, they were organised into Municipios, with the rights and freedoms these traditionally had, same laws, same everything as the mainland. Before they were autonomous regions they were generally called "the adjacent islands" and seen as part of metropolitan Portugal as opposed to ultramarine Portugal

  • @jfb-
    @jfb- 8 років тому +901

    Might need to update this video a bit...

    • @SR2XO
      @SR2XO 8 років тому +46

      He's got two years to make a new one, thats when the U.K. leaves.

    • @eliparker7151
      @eliparker7151 8 років тому +10

      Was Article 50 enacted?

    • @ncc1701dfreddyvulcan
      @ncc1701dfreddyvulcan 8 років тому +11

      Why great britain?!
      #WhatHaveWeDone

    • @dippy2k839
      @dippy2k839 8 років тому

      Wasn't we will when Thatcher mk2 is sitting at the front bench shouting at Corbyn

    • @jadenw8755
      @jadenw8755 8 років тому

      Na it's fine I don't see a problem

  • @rymdalkis
    @rymdalkis 4 роки тому +105

    CGP: "The borders of the EU will probably continue to expand"
    *Turkey lights up green*
    The entire EU in 2020: *chuckles*

    • @DaDARKPass
      @DaDARKPass 4 роки тому +20

      I still dunno why people think Turkey has any chance of joining. It has been trying to for 50 years and has failed completely because of their human rights offences, their shitty democracy and their denial of the Armenian genocide.

    • @bobing1752
      @bobing1752 4 роки тому +8

      @@DaDARKPass Well they may have had a chance before 2020 but this year has been a bit messy for them in political terms.
      However, the EU would never have let Turkey in before they clean their political system to replace it by a free democracy.

    • @DaDARKPass
      @DaDARKPass 4 роки тому +1

      @@bobing1752 exactly.

    • @tardvandecluntproductions1278
      @tardvandecluntproductions1278 3 роки тому

      @@DaDARKPass It's basically a unicorn but both sides using it for political deals.

  • @lifemythanimations6606
    @lifemythanimations6606 7 років тому +90

    And of course. Switzerland is doing its thing.

    • @chrisdelzell8467
      @chrisdelzell8467 6 років тому +2

      Life Myth Animations God bless the Swiss! From America with love.

    • @snetmotnosrorb3946
      @snetmotnosrorb3946 6 років тому +1

      Unelected? Heard of the Council of the European Union or the European Parliament?

    • @TarebossT
      @TarebossT 6 років тому

      Switzerland is a fake country

    • @seandubord6654
      @seandubord6654 6 років тому +3

      Nazi gold anyone?

    • @reptile_loki
      @reptile_loki 6 років тому

      Tareboss T.
      Why?

  • @furkangoth
    @furkangoth 3 роки тому +4

    1:23 I wasn’t expecting Yohanna as the Icelander so thanks for making my day.

    • @cana0
      @cana0 3 роки тому +1

      Is she famous?

    • @furkangoth
      @furkangoth 3 роки тому +1

      @@cana0 She was runner up in eurovision 2009.

  • @JakubWaniek
    @JakubWaniek 11 років тому +18

    3:23 - Poland isn't in the Eurozone and the diagram says it is. Well, it isn't yet.

    • @CacZarn
      @CacZarn 11 років тому +14

      Polandball can into Eurozone?

    • @JakubWaniek
      @JakubWaniek 11 років тому +4

      Brendan Brown Damn it, Brendan. Damn it, Facebook. DAMN IT.

  • @three-bark1928
    @three-bark1928 5 років тому +43

    2:09
    "Hey can you get me some Netherland ketchup, they have the best."
    Sure

  • @vectoredthrust5214
    @vectoredthrust5214 8 років тому +55

    Something you'll notice throughout this video: The UK has a lot of exceptions to common EU policies like obligation to join the Euro (and have monetary policy governed by the European Central Bank) and the Schengen Area (necessitating completely free and open UK borders) while still enjoying all the benefits of EU Membership
    Basically the UK has probably the sweetest membership deal of any EU Member

    • @vectoredthrust5214
      @vectoredthrust5214 8 років тому +35

      Right, let me start with your first point about us being "the most desirable country to live in"
      Sorry to shatter your views, but we are NOT the most desirable country in the EU for Syrian Refugees. That is Germany, and they have unfortunately been a bit TOO open and welcoming and it's started biting them in the hindquarters, I'll admit.
      Our lifestyle is hardly desirable. We're not exactly the most generous country in the EU in terms of welfare, benefits, education and such. Nor are we the most egalitarian, with the highest income inequality of any EU state. We work longer hours, we are less happy, our government is less generous and there are fewer public services. If anyone is the most desirable country in the EU to live in, that would be any one of the Scandinavian Countries, Sweden in particular comes to mind.
      The only reason why we seem so "desirable" to people is because we speak English. There are those who believe they'll have better prospects here and make the insane trek past Sweden and Germany to try their luck for the UK. However, the number for the UK is absolutely tiny in the grand scheme of things. The majority of them aren't even in Europe: Of the 6.5 Million Syrian Refugees, 4.5 Million are in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt.
      That point aside, I must refute your trade argument. I don't know where you got your information from but we trade with the EU FAR for than Switzerland does:
      UK Exports to the EU: 223 BIllion Pounds
      Swiss Exports to the EU: 72 Billion Pounds
      Sources: European Commission Directorate-General for Trade, UK House of Commons Library Briefing Paper
      And furthermore, you think just because we're the UK the EU will want to negotiate trade deals with us just becuase we're the UK? We're a great country with some great exports, but we are not that special. If Ford find it's easier to build their engines in Germany or Spain where their car factories are, they'll close down the Bridgend and Dagenham plants because it's more desirable to have their engines built within the same Free Trade bloc. Hitachi chose the UK as their location for a new train factory because we're a door into the European Rail Market. Airbus builds the wings of their aircraft in Wales because we're within the EU. Don't be too surprised that if we leave and suddenly mporting those wings becomes a messy affair, they'll choose to gradually disinvest from Broughton and move wing production to a new factroy in say, Italy.
      Besides, even if by some reason we are oh so special that the EU will bend over backwards to negotiate a special trade deal with us, that would take years to iron out. And in that timeframe, companies looking to invest in the UK might get cold feet and choose alternative countires like Spain or Germany, and companies who depend heavily on relations with the EU may scale back their operations or put off investments.
      Bottom Line: your points don't hold water

    • @vectoredthrust5214
      @vectoredthrust5214 8 років тому +32

      I very well did counter your point about immigration, and you're the one dodging mine. Whatever, I shall continue.
      People won't go to Sweden because it's cold? How simplistic do you think people are? I think people choose a lot more factors than just climate for their choice of immigration destination. And also France and Germany are a LOT more generous when it comes to welfare and government programmes than the UK is. For starters Germany has universities Tuition-free for Germans AND Foreigners. The UK doesn't.
      Sweden's Population: 14.3% Immigrant
      Germany's Population: 11.9% Immigrant
      UK's Population: 11.3%. Immigrant
      France's Population: 11.1% Immigrant
      Source: United Nations Report "International Migrant Stock 2015"
      While France has a slightly smaller immigrant population than us, we are hardly near the top. Hence your idea that we are "the most desirable country for immigrants" hardly holds water
      Well, building on floodplains is hardly the fault of immigrants, and if you're complaining about flooding and cash-strapped councils then the problem isn't immigrants it's the UK Government's Austerity programme and lowering Capital Gains taxes (which benefits rich people who hardly need it) rather than tackling tax evasion and increasing taxes on the wealthy. The problem isn't too much spending, espcially not on immigrants, it's insufficient tax revenue. In fact, immigrants benefit the UK because they're usually young and willing to work and generate tax revenue. Many are also highly educated and become part of the skilled labour force.
      "According to the report, immigrants who arrived after 1999 in Britain, and made up a third of the overall immigrant population in the UK in 2011, were 45% less likely to receive state benefits than native Brits. They were also 3% less likely to live in social housing.
      They were also better educated than native Britons. In 2011, 32% of those from the European Economic Area (EEA) and 43% of those from outside of the region had a university degree, whereas for native Brits it was less than one in five (21%).
      Recent immigrants from the European Economic Area (EEA) contributed on average 34% more taxes than they received as transfers, while those from outside of the EEA contributed 2% more." - Huffington Post report on a Univeristy College London study
      Immigrants as a whole are not scumming the beneifts system, they're helping keep YOUR NHS, Schools and Roads paid for. Rather than being mad at the scapegoat rightwing tabloids love to target, how about go after the real culprits who've severely slashed spending on flood defences and other public programmes?
      Coming back to your "building on floodplains" issue, improving flood defences aside we could solve that problem by building more densely in areas that aren't flood-prone. I'm a big fan of dense, urban housing. Think tower blocks, but actually done nicely and not the awful "slums in the sky" we had in the 60s. I've been on holidays to see friends in places like Singapore, and their ultra-high rise flats are actually quite nice places to live. I also like dense urban living because it reduces the need to have a car and it's generally more sustainable
      As to your "dead weight" argument, while we UK is a net contributor to the EU, the benefits FAR outweigh the drawbacks in other areas. Think of all the foreign direct investment the UK receives because we are EU Members. The productive immigrants who come to the UK and allow our roads and shcools to run with the tax revenue they generate. The skilled jobs they fill that not enough Britons have the skills for (like say, engineering) to allow companies to expand and hire more Brits in jobs that they DO qualify for (management or finance), the Hitachi Train factory being built in Newton Aycliffe to tap the European Market, the UK's preferred status as a Finance Destination due to being in the EU but insulated from the Euro because we have the Pound, Airbus, the Eurofighter, Scientific collborations between British scientists and those on the continent, the Joint European Torus Fusion reactor in Oxford...I could go on and on and on
      The underlying problem isn't too much spending, it's too little revenue being collected. Starbucks, Amazon, Google and other big multinationals are getting away with billions of pounds of unpaid taxes via loopholes and clever accounting. We could tap into that instead of railing at Membership fees that are actually an investment that we benefit from
      Your points still fail to hold water, you are rather arrogantly misinformed as to our status of the "most desirable country" in the EU, and you are blaming innocent parties who help and beenfit you rather than the real culprits who are making things worse

    • @vectoredthrust5214
      @vectoredthrust5214 8 років тому +24

      Apologies for taking awhile to reply, this took awhile to write, properly research and back up.
      The migrant camps in Calais are a small fraction of all immigrants in France. Let's look at the numbers: The French Ministry of the Interior estimates that between 80,000-100,000 Illegal Immigrants enter France each year
      The source is in French, but it's the primary source to where I got that number
      www1.rfi.fr/actufr/articles/076/article_43041.asp
      Meanwhile, Sky News estimates that the Calais jungle last year grew at "an alarming rate"...from 1,500 in September to 5,000 in October
      news.sky.com/story/1527131/calais-migrant-crisis-what-you-need-to-know
      Even with the low number of 80,000, the Calais Jungle is 6.25% of all illegal Immigration into France. These are the illegal immigrants who are under the mistaken belief they'll have better prospects in the UK because we're an English-speaking country, and our global pop cultural presence means even the most desperate and third world of people KNOW the UK a lot more than France. That's unfortunately a drawback of our own global cultural success
      As to your "House Prices going up 50% due to Migrants," I think you might want to switch out “migrants” to "overzealous investors, foreign or local." House prices rise and fall due to demand, but that demand isn't always because of real demand and more due to speculation.
      Ever heard of something called “speculative bubbles?” This is an economic phenomenon where investors buy into an asset not because they intend for it to be used and make them money, but in anticipation of the price rising and they can sell it for a higher price later. This drives up demand and the price DOES rise, causing more investors to jump on the bandwagon, demand rises further and so does the price. This continues until eventually something causes the investors to lose confidence, and the investors start selling rather than buying, which drives demand down and price falls, and when that happens the other investors panic and start selling their assets as well and making the problem worse. Throughout history this has lead to crazy things like individual Tulip bulbs being worth 10 times more than the annual wage of a skilled craftsman at the height of “Tulip Mania” in the Netherlands in the 1600s and The Tokyo Imperial Palace (in Central Tokyo) being worth more than all of the real estate in California at the height of the 1980s Japanese Property Bubble
      A similar thing has been happening in the UK Property Market over the last few years. The UK has been a remarkably stable economy compared to the rest of the EU, and combine that with our Global Pop Cultural Success meaning people KNOW the UK and our legal framework allowing this kind of thing means Foreign Investors (as in, not people coming here, buying houses and staying here. They’re staying where they are, but buying foreign properties overseas as investments) are snapping up properties throughout the UK as investments. They have no intention to live in these houses but they’re driving up demand (and price) anyways.
      www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/mortgageshome/article-2394704/Foreign-investors-snap-70-new-build-homes-central-London.html
      While London is an extreme example of this, it’s happening throughout the UK, especially in more prosperous areas like the South of England
      We COULD fix this by changing the laws to limit this sort of thing, but instead let’s blame the immigrants since they’re a much easier target to scapegoat rather than understand the nuances of global finance and the economics
      Another culprit has been the prevalence of “buy to rent” investors. These are investors, foreign or otherwise who are also buying up property without the intention of living in them, but rather than selling it on they intend to rent it out. This is driving up demand and forcing many otherwise first-time buyers to instead rent property that they can’t afford to buy, while those rich enough to buy at these prices profit from all the renters.
      Thankfully, we ARE doing something about this kind of investor who’s driving up house prices, and their effect on house prices cannot be overstated
      www.ibtimes.co.uk/uk-house-prices-sudden-slowdown-buy-let-investor-surge-wears-off-1557182
      Right, moving on to your assertion that “everything has to go through Brussels,” are you aware that the vast majority of our laws are set in the UK, by British MPs, that the British Public has voted in without needing to go through the EU? While the EU certainly has some legal powers in the UK, they are limited compared to how much power the UK has over itself.
      Now, this is where things get tricky because you really have to define what “laws” we’re talking about. By acts of parliament, the percentage of EU-influenced laws was 14% between 1980-2009. This is a small percentage that I’m happy with given the benefits of being in the EU. ALso, the fact that the EU parliament is a democratically-elected body we send representative to means we do get a say in these
      Now, the highest percentage is of “EU Law vs UK Law” you can have is when you toal up all regulations in force in the UK, and this actually does come up to 53% EU vs 47% UK. Before you start shouting in vindicated victory, keep in mind most of these EU-derived regulations are things that isn’t necessarily of much consequence to the UK. There are regulations covering everything from growing Olives to protecting Regional Dishes and cheeses so they can only call themselves that if they’re from some obscure corner of France. Hence, they have very little consequence for the UK. Also, this would include a lot of regulations that allow smooth economic cooperation between EU countries like using similar screw standards, or environmental policies like Air Quality Emissions Limits, Car Safety Standards, Banned Toxic Chemicals like PCBs and a myriad of other things that quite honestly is good thing that they’re universal across the EU.
      In any case this defeats your assertion that “everything has to go through Brussels” because even with that highest percentage it clearly shows the UK has a very high degree of Sovereignty and the EU isn’t some tyrannical overlord. Furthermore, when it comes to EU Law, the EU is a DEMOCRATIC body with an ELECTED parliament where we can actually make our voice heard and could possibly sway the chamber…if we didn’t keep sending UKIP MEPs who aren’t interested in participating in EU politics most of the time.
      fullfact.org/europe/uk-law-what-proportion-influenced-eu/
      While we’re at it, let’s move on to your assertion that “staying in the EU will only benefit the rich.” Oh really? If that’s the case why is the EU responsible for or at least has heavily influenced so many laws that defend labour rights, maternity rights, sick leave, and so on? Frankly, the EU is far progressive than the UK has been over such employee protections, with the UK most of the time only begrudgingly accepting EU standards
      “In some cases the government has managed to block the introduction of European rights altogether through its vote on the Council of Ministers. But in other cases the European workplace agenda carries on. The government is, for example, presently being forced to adopt a EU directive for additional parental leave - its preferred option is to increase leave to up to 18 weeks a year, which is the minimum implementation of EU requirements.
      In 2009 the European court of human rights ruled that workers who are sick during their holiday period can claim back their time, and this was adopted as part of UK law in 2012. And in a separate case the European court said you cannot be discriminated against for your political beliefs (this is not presently covered by existing UK employment law).”
      www.theguardian.com/money/work-blog/2013/jan/24/europe-legacy-uk-workplaces
      If anyone is intent on only benefitting the rich, I’d say our own government is a bigger culprit
      As for your “immigrants coming to the UK are depressing wages” theory, this is EXACTLY what we have a minimum wage for, and that is something that needs to be enforced. We set a price floor to avoid exactly this problem. If immigrants are still taking most of the minimum wage jobs, either the price floor is too low, or Brits just don’t want to do those jobs. It’s as simple as that. However, for higher wage white-collar jobs where the immigrants are inadvertedly accepting lower wages than their local counterparts, we could fix this by better informing immigrants about the median wages for their jobs, and ensure they’re making a fair wage to their British counterparts. Better still, create laws that would make deliberately underpaying immigrant staff illegal. I doubt this is even happening to a large degree, and even if it were true that wages are being depressed by immigrants, that’s not their fault. It’s the fault of those who are employing them. We can make laws to fix this
      As for the “cheaper materials” thing, with you specifically citing Tata Steel, are you aware that the ENTIRE European Steel market is under massive pressure due to low steel prices, and it’s not Europe that’s the cause of the steel price slump, it’s largely dumping of Chinese steel on the global market. In China’s breakneck booming days up until a couple of years ago, China built up the largest steelmaking capacity in the world, both to serve domestic demand of the fast-growing economy and the global market for Chinese-made everything.
      However, in the last couple of years, China’s economy has slowed dramatically, and domestic demand for steel has shunk as construction, carmaking, shipbuilding and other industries that consume steel all slow down. Usually, this would result in the excess steel mills closing down and jobs being laid off, but in order to avoid social unrest, the (mostly government-owned) steel mills have been ordered to keep producing steel even when there isn’t demand for it, and this steel which would’ve been consumed at home gets exported to the global market, and when there’s more supply than demand, price drops. THAT is why Tata Steel is under massive pressure, not because of Europe but because of China. We could defend against this by introducing EU-level import tariffs on Chinese steel to make it more expensive to import than European-produced steel, and yes that includes British Steel.
      www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/commodities/11878679/Chinas-dumped-steel-leaves-UK-industry-facing-fight-for-survival.html
      And in a twist of Irony, OUR government is being accused of leading efforts to try and STOP the anti-dumping legislation I just mentioned. Might be because we somehow think it’s a better idea to cozy up with China rather than the rest of Europe and helping our steel workers.
      www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/apr/01/steel-crisis-uk-accused-blocking-eu-attempts-regulate-chinese-dumping
      Now, for your next accusation that prices won’t rise if we leave the EU, oh yes they will, especially at the supermarket. The UK has not produced enough food to be self-sufficient for at least the last 100 years, and that’s not going to change anytime soon. The UK imports something like half of its food because it simply isn’t practical to produce it ourselves. We’re 1/3 the size of France and we have the same population. Food self-sufficiency isn’t realistic. We can support our farmers by buying British produce whenever we can, and supermarkets know we do this, but it isn’t going to be enough to supply all of our food needs. If you’ve ever looked at the countries of origin for most of your produce, you’ll notice that most of it that doesn’t come from the UK comes from somewhere else in the EU. If we were to leave the EU’s “Free Trade Zone” then the prices of those EU imports will almost certainly go up, and any free trade deal will take years to implement, and in that time food prices WILL rise.
      uk.reuters.com/article/uk-brexit-lidington-idUKKCN0XP1IQ
      I think I covered your “working class is struggling due to jobs being given to migrants and executives hoarding the money” accusation earlier so I won’t repeat myself
      Now, your arguments against my idea of denser urban living in residential skyscrapers is an interesting one, I’ll admit Skyscrapers are an extreme option, and probably more low-rise flats that are at most 5-6 stories are probably a more realistic option for places outside the UK’s largest cities. However, that’s still denser housing than detached homes or even terrace houses. That said, I would like to address the 4 points in that article.
      For Point 1 about the general expense of building a skyscraper compared to low-rise buildings, this would really be dictated by the economics of land costs in a particular area. If the land is so valuable that you can still make the economics of a residential skyscraper stack up, why not? Certainly in places like London the economics definitely stack up, and we need to change the laws to discourage development of luxurious skyscrapers that are really being bought up by Foreign Investors and Speculators and encourage more high-density housing instead. Even if the proportion of usable space in the residential skyscraper is less than that of a low-rise, the total usable space is still greater.
      Point 2 I’ll admit is a difficult one to argue against, and the wind tunnel effect skyscrapers generate can be a nuisance to ground-level pedestrians. However, I am assuming these skyscrapers will be built in areas along with other skyscrapers rather than standing individually, so it isn’t spreading the problem to new areas, or in designated skyscraper-construction areas. I’d just like to see more of these skyscrapers be residential as well as commercial. However, returning to my earlier point Skyscrapers are an extreme residential solution and a more realistic option is increasing the number of low-rise flats, which would improve urban density over individual and terraced houses anyways
      Point 3 about the pressure on Civic Infrastructure is very true, and it would require costly public works to integrate public transport into these residential skyscrapers, but this honestly FAR more preferable than pressure on road infrastructure due to car dependence, which is FAR worse for the environment, takes up more space and is a lot more expensive in the long run, especially when environmental costs are factored in.
      Point 4 is definitely a concern against residential skyscrapers, and certainly the “rat cage” mentality is a concern. However, I’d like to know if there are ways to mitigate this by making residential skyscrapers attractive places to raise a family. Certainly my friends in Singapore saw no problems growing up in a Skyscraper apartment. However this is anecdotal evidence more than anything. I will admit that is intriguing.
      Like I said, increased numbers of low-rise apartments is probably more realistic for the UK than residential skyscrapers outside of places like London, and this would still improve urban density and reduce our need to build on more dangerous and flood-prone areas.
      The other idea would be to improve our flood defences to make these flood plains actually safe places to live. The Dutch certainly have become experts at living in flood prone areas and even below sea level, and that’s because they invest heavily in their flood defences. They’ve spent 10 Billion Euros over the last 40 years to hold back the North Sea and protect their famously low-lying country from its storm surges
      www.itv.com/news/2016-01-05/dutch-flood-defences-show-what-can-be-achieved-with-investment/
      Of course, the UK Government (rather than migrants) have been making OUR flood problems worse by doing the exact opposite and slashing budgets for flood defence. It’s also interesting that the Flood Defences that DO get invested in are mostly in their political heartland of the South of England, while the traditionally anti-Tory North has seen the brunt of budget cuts
      www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/uk-flooding-budget-cuts-intensified-impacts-of-floods-a6788886.html
      The EU and Migrants aren't the cause of the issues you're citing, in fact in many cases the EU and Migrants are helping

    • @TechTehScience
      @TechTehScience 8 років тому +17

      +Vectored Thrust I have to say, your comments were a lovely read. It's always tough to knock people on the head on why the EU isn't this tyrannical force planning to wipe out all culture diversity, while simultaneously ruining the economy, and putting everyone under the rule of the evil overlord, Master Brussels the first.
      But joking aside, it's always nice to see someone actually explaining to people why the EU is a mostly beneficial force (although requiring some level of reform). Magnificent read! :D
      I also have to say I find it amusing at how almost everyone I myself had had this argument with, just like in this case, claims the pro-EU are 'over complicating' things. While still claiming to have enough knowledge on the topic to have a proper opinion on it.

    • @franzferdinand2389
      @franzferdinand2389 8 років тому +9

      +Sam Wheatley Your points are weak and come with no sources at all. You also ignored his most important arguments and kept talking about arguments were he did admit you have a point, which are less relevant to the question if the EU is good or bad for the UK then those which you practically ignored. Then you complained that his sources are "biased" which is laughable at best, even if an author is biased the information itself is factual and if you doubt it you are free to expose them for their lies. But claiming that an information is unreliable because you don't like the political orientiation of the author without making any attempt to provide eviodence for your claim just makes you look stupid.

  • @Anakeish
    @Anakeish 3 роки тому +12

    I know its 8 years old but, Swiss has another * to EEA.
    The EEA includes EU countries and also Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. It allows them to be part of the EU’s single market.
    Switzerland is not an EU or EEA member but is part of the single market. This means Swiss nationals have the same rights to live and work in the UK as other EEA nationals.

    • @AlaiMacErc
      @AlaiMacErc 2 роки тому

      Switzerland has a _ton_ of *'s... but that must be about the biggest (other) one, yup.

  • @cadeh072
    @cadeh072 4 роки тому +7

    Things CGP Gray loves
    1. Saying that's another story for another time
    2. History
    3. ASTERISKS

  • @EnhanceRaptor
    @EnhanceRaptor 8 років тому +84

    So what you're saying is the stars in the European flag really ought to be asterisks?

    • @thegamer5367
      @thegamer5367 6 років тому

      EnhanceRaptor
      No there the countrys

    • @korayacar1444
      @korayacar1444 6 років тому

      the gamer No, they symbolise solidarity.

    • @korayacar1444
      @korayacar1444 6 років тому

      Rune Jensen Was that meant to be a point of some sort? Elaborate, if you will, for it is meaningless.

    • @RubenSebRamalho
      @RubenSebRamalho 6 років тому

      No, 12 stars means prefection.

    • @RubenSebRamalho
      @RubenSebRamalho 6 років тому

      Kinda agree, fucking socialist people

  • @J0VyanBH
    @J0VyanBH 5 років тому +521

    their national language should be asterisks in morse code

    • @ouralisacs3989
      @ouralisacs3989 5 років тому +5

      I second this.

    • @deflatedair6642
      @deflatedair6642 5 років тому +5

      @jaca van heesch uh bud I think you missed the joke

    • @MizantropMan
      @MizantropMan 5 років тому +2

      Currently it's arabic or some other third world language that sounds like choking.
      Would be racist otherwise, remember?

    • @jesusisthetruth4497
      @jesusisthetruth4497 5 років тому

      vyan_mmxvii ooo

    • @Zen-rw2fz
      @Zen-rw2fz 5 років тому +6

      @@MizantropMan I hate to breake jokes but you've gone off limit here, their is no national language and if there was it would most likely be english. You're joke inherently racist, so fuck off

  • @Dusterisp
    @Dusterisp 4 роки тому +35

    In the modern day, I cannot thank you enough for being able to discuss things in a manner sufficiently civilised to
    pronounce the second 's' in "asterisk".

  • @obliviontb
    @obliviontb 8 років тому +10

    on 03:25 there is a small problem. Poland listed as a part of the eurozone does not use euro currency. We have our own polish złoty.

  • @scylax7669
    @scylax7669 9 років тому +27

    "How the EU works is hideously complicated..."
    "Except for France, the Queen of Not Letting Go."
    XD

    • @MarkusAldawn
      @MarkusAldawn 6 років тому

      Wouldn't it be "the staunch republican of not letting go"?

  • @jimmydim2212
    @jimmydim2212 8 років тому +132

    I am a Greek in my early 20's. It's suddening how many people my age don't know about the lying part and many other facts. I dare to say that many people do stick to the glorious ancient past and don't really bother with anything else about history, especially modern (apart from WW2 of course). Not all of course. But a considerable amount, sadly. If only people knew a little bit more about the sources of many of today's problems and stopped just pointing fingers, that would be great. It really helps form a solid opinion for god's sake. The saddest thing of all is that school DOES include some of that stuff, but people don't fucking read it.

    • @dimiou13
      @dimiou13 8 років тому +2

      He Soyam
      Ωραίο σχόλιο :-)

    • @jimmydim2212
      @jimmydim2212 8 років тому

      Με αυτα που έχω ακούσει σε συζητήσεις.. Μου πέφτουν τα μαλλιά από τώρα!

    • @dimiou13
      @dimiou13 8 років тому

      He Soyam
      Τί εννοείς; Για πες κάτι συγκεκριμένο...

    • @jimmydim2212
      @jimmydim2212 8 років тому +2

      Το πιο χαρακτηριστικό ήταν στο δημοψήφισμα. Είδα φίλους να μαλώνουν μεταξύ τους για πράγματα που δεν ήξεραν.. Για να συνοψίσω τις γνώμες όσων μίλησα, το ΝΑΙ έλεγε "Η Ευρώπη είναι φίλοι μας" και το ΟΧΙ "Οι Γερμανοί είναι εχθροί μας". Πέρα από αυτό, καμία πλευρά δεν ήξερε τι σημαίνει καμία από τις δύο επιλογές στην πράξη, και μόνο έκαναν φαντασιώσεις για τη δραχμή, ο καθένας και με άλλη θεωρία! Λίγο research δεν βλάπτει ανεξάρτητα απο τι πιστεύει ο καθένας.. Δεν γίνεται να έρχεται ο άλλος να σου λέει "ρε, ψήφισε αυτό" και όταν τον ρωτάς γιατί, να σου λέει "επειδή είναι το σωστό" και να το αφήνει εκεί :P

    • @dimiou13
      @dimiou13 8 років тому +1

      He Soyam
      Το δημοψήφισμα ήταν επίτηδες στημένο έτσι. ο Τσίπρας δεν νομίζω να περίμενε ή να ήθελε (μάλλον το δευτερο) ένα τέτοιο οχι, λόγω του τι επακόλουθησε.
      Πάντως, επειδή ήταν ακατανόητο, νομίζω πως το Όχι γενικά ερμηνευόταν ως "Όχι άλλη λιτότητα, ότι και να γίνει, ακόμη και εκτός εε"... Αυτή είναι η πεποίθησή μουχ δεν ξέρω, βέβαια δεν μπορούσα και να ψηφίσω πέρυσι, οπότε...

  • @AvroBellow
    @AvroBellow 2 роки тому +25

    Here's an interesting way to be an EU citizen despite NEVER having lived in ANY of the EU countries or overseas territories:
    1) I'm Canadian, born and raised.
    2) My mother is from Northern Ireland so I am automatically a UK citizen.
    3) My maternal grandparents were also born in Northern Ireland (yeah, so?)
    4) When my grandparents were born, Ulster was part of the Irish Free State.
    5) Thus, I am also automatically a citizen of Eire (Ireland)
    6) Thus, I am also automatically a citizen of the EU
    Having that many passports gets VERY expensive VERY quickly, but I'm thankful for them!

    • @jmurray1110
      @jmurray1110 2 роки тому +7

      All northern Irish citizens may opt in for Irish passports regardless due to historical circumstances so you could regardless
      Actually with brexit a lot of us were considering applying for Irish pass well as british as an escape option