In the early sixties before Ireland joined the EU you could buy a cottage with 5-6 acres of land for less than ten thousand £ , then they joined and everything went mad, the same cottage would then cost you £500,000. Irish farmers were millionairs overnight with all the subsidies they were suddenly entitled to, the road system was all updated , they joined the euro snake financialy so the currency went up and down with inflation, they thought europe was heaven. Now look at the mess they are in.
Now all the old Eastern block countries will be in the same boat, like kids in a sweet shop, I want- can I have- gimme..........
Again early sixties , Harrold Wilson had to devalue the pound because it got too strong , we were making stuff then that the world wanted but could not afford, We had factories and work. Then Ted Heath took us into Europe and the rot set in.
The only way forwards is to manufacture goods that the rest of the world wants and can afford.
We must also consider ourselves lucky that Africa has not joined..............yet.