The European Union Explained*

The European Union with a lot of asterisks.

[WoolyMelon]

YouTube: let’s recommend this the day after brexit

[albinjohnsson]

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

[jcp]

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

[Skunkiboi]

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

[floppyfish]

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."

[rowdywoman]

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

[NFSHeld]

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.

[santosgt]

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

[yeezyb]

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

[SwissTHXEB]

“The borders of the EU will probably continue to expand”
Turkey lights up in green

That didn't age well...

[ggwpBC]

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

[haraffael]

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.

[ClemensKatzer]

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

[patrickmeny]

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

[SacsachCCABP]

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

[JackRussel]

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

[clarknebres]

That closeup of Greece at 2:53 killed me pmsl

[vhsjpdfg]

"A bottomless well of asterisks."

[r.k.]

"Europe loves asterisks"
Says the American*

[mikikaboom]

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