Does the EU Really Need the UK? - Brexit Explained

When scrolling through comments you often see people say "they need us more than we need them". So we have tried to respond to that once and for all. We look at if the EU relies on the UK for trade, how the EU budget will cope without the UK and if the EU needs the UK as a security ally.

[zaw]

Yes please do a video about the EUs agricultural policy!

[akirapunk]

There are 4 big actors on the global stage: US, EU, Russia
and China. They have massive territories, and serious political, economic and political weight.
Do you think it’s a coincidence that both Trump and Putin would rather the EU break up into smaller, more vulnerable chunks?

[randomzocker]

As a European I havent noticed much from brexit.

[adam]

when I came to the UK, I was surprised by this porpaganda that the whole EU is crying because the UK wants to leave, meanwhile, in the EU somehow it was not talked about much, at least it was not the most narrow topic...

[KingBobXVI]

"Does anyone _really_ want a video about the UK's farming policy?"

...

...yes.

[Arkao]

As a French I have to say that I always wait your video.

They are full of informations and fact. You do not put any judgment you are just explaining.

And this is quite interesting imo.

Keep doing what your doing. Carry on, cause a lot of people are interested in.

[RBuckminsterFuller]

The EU as a whole is a much larger economy than the UK by itself. The impact will be pretty clear. But what's wrong with the basic idea that we all need each other? Two people building a house can do a better job than either one by themselves.

[CityWhisperer]

I didn’t know this comment section was a meeting point for economic and trade experts.

[DawryMike]

The UK went into a negotiation with no leverage and expected to win. The EU has made it's position clear for the past 2 years, the UK cant get the perks of an EU member with no strings attached.

[jamescbender]

I'm an American (living in London) and politically I'm a Libertarian. Having said that, I don't get the "George Soros" comment. Granted, I've only seen a few of your videos, but they seem to be pretty objective to me. You're not making up the facts, just reporting them. And you've had some of the most balanced, clear and concise videos on Brexit that I've seen Good job! 👍

[steves]

Great video - I like the approach of using facts, not emotions, which is something this whole debacle has been sorely lacking.

[UchihaDarkForce]

Short answer: no. It's a loss but the EU is strong enough to go without GB

[quwokka-el]

You kinda forget to say that the UK's trade with countries outside of the EU are all happening under trade deals which were negotiated by the EU.
This said, I would love to see a video if the UK actually could negotiate better deals (more preferable for themselves) with other countries like the USA/China etc. and how these countries could react to Britains main industries (finance, insurance etc.).

[ciangargan]

It's in the EU's best interest to punish the UK for leaving to keep the union strong. If Brexit goes terribly for the UK then no other country will even consider leaving the EU. It's a tough pill to swallow.

[RBNG]

I think I always just assumed the UK was less needed than the EU. Its just a matter of size, population ect. I don't logically see how it could be the other way, unless you have an inflated sense of self importance.

[yoemeuunitoful]

I'd argue a rational brit is more a patriot than an overly emotional one.

[ellinmara]

I gotta say this: From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU, Finland! You guys are beyond awesome.

[ThePkb]

Quite simply. NO ONE has ever asked "What deal will the UK give to the EU"?


It's always the other way round, even when posed by leading Brexiters.


That, right there, tells us all we need to know about the balance of leverage in these negotiations, and therefore, who "needs" who, to the greater extent.

[angelic]

I'm not sure if you have done a video on this yet, but could you put together a video on how much the common market in Europe boosts its members economies?
A lot of people seems to fixate on the direct costs of being a member, not realizing the in terms of trade and job creation, that cost is negligible(or at least that's the impression Ive got from a cursory look into it).

[wingtaylor]

9:15 "Does anyone really want a video about the EU´s farming policy?" Given that the CAP "still accounts for 37% of the EU´s expenditure", yes, please go ahead...