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THREAD: What the EU has lost
After 4 long years, finally the UK will be free of the EU.
But apart from trying to dissuade others to leave, why did the EU fight so hard to get the UK to change its mind?
Because the EU knew it would lose a lot. And this is what it has lost:
THREAD: What the EU has lost
After 4 long years, finally the UK will be free of the EU.
But apart from trying to dissuade others to leave, why did the EU fight so hard to get the UK to change its mind?
Because the EU knew it would lose a lot. And this is what it has lost:
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- 12% of its population (down from 513m to 447m)
- €2.4 trillion in GDP (down from €15.9tn to €13.5tn)
- It's second largest contributor, amounting to 5% of its total budget (~€12bn per year)
- 12% of its population (down from 513m to 447m)
- €2.4 trillion in GDP (down from €15.9tn to €13.5tn)
- It's second largest contributor, amounting to 5% of its total budget (~€12bn per year)
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- Its foremost military power, losing ~23% of its defence spending (In 2016, UK spent €47bn on defence, EU total was €200bn)
- A nuclear power
- A member of the UN Security Council
- A member of the "5 eyes" defence network
- Its foremost military power, losing ~23% of its defence spending (In 2016, UK spent €47bn on defence, EU total was €200bn)
- A nuclear power
- A member of the UN Security Council
- A member of the "5 eyes" defence network
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- Its premier financial centre (London accounts for a third of EU capital markets)
- A manufacturing power, 9% of the EU's manufacturing capability, (the 9th biggest manufacturer in the world with 2% of global production)
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- Its premier financial centre (London accounts for a third of EU capital markets)
- A manufacturing power, 9% of the EU's manufacturing capability, (the 9th biggest manufacturer in the world with 2% of global production)
...
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- Its leader in fintech (UK attracted more fintech investment in the first half of 2020 than the rest of the EU combined)
- Its second largest recipient of foreign direct investment (~20% of the EU's total in 2018)
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- Its leader in fintech (UK attracted more fintech investment in the first half of 2020 than the rest of the EU combined)
- Its second largest recipient of foreign direct investment (~20% of the EU's total in 2018)
...
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- Its most prestigious universities. Of the 10 best universities in Europe, 8 are British
- Unfettered access to the UK's exclusive economic zone (waters). The EU will lose ~6.8m sq km by losing the UK, roughly 27% of its total (25m sq km).
- Its most prestigious universities. Of the 10 best universities in Europe, 8 are British
- Unfettered access to the UK's exclusive economic zone (waters). The EU will lose ~6.8m sq km by losing the UK, roughly 27% of its total (25m sq km).
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But perhaps most importantly to the empire builders in Brussels, they have lost 1 out of 28 of their "subjects"... 242,000 sq km of "their" territory. They thought they "owned" the UK.
The British people disagreed. Long live a free and prosperous UK
But perhaps most importantly to the empire builders in Brussels, they have lost 1 out of 28 of their "subjects"... 242,000 sq km of "their" territory. They thought they "owned" the UK.
The British people disagreed. Long live a free and prosperous UK
