Okay, the European Union just lost one of its main member countries: the United Kingdom. It's not all bad news these days, however, in Brussels. It seems that Albania is now ready to be admitted to the EU.
For a long time after World War II, Albania was completely isolated. It was a Stalinist dictatorship surrounded by Yugoslavia and the West. The Albanians dealt with the lack of access to the Soviet bloc by turning inward and basically cutting off all travel and trade outside the country. Over the four decades prior to the fall of the Soviet Union, Albania marched proudly backwards. It was never a very modern country, but by 1990, the Albanians had brought their living standards down to the level of 1850.
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union and the fall of the government of long time Albanian dictator Hoxha, there has been some progress moving the country forward. There are pockets of modernity (okay very small pockets). There is no question, however, that Albania remains backwards even by Balkan standards.
So why in the world is the EU admitting Albania? It will not help the current EU member states and it may actually punish the Albanians by forcing them to deal with all sorts of mandates from Brussels that they can ill afford.
If you needed to understand why it is that the Brits voted to leave the EU, the decision with Albania provides a great deal of important information. Britain will not have to support the Albanians or their institutions. That will be left to the Germans and the French.
For a long time after World War II, Albania was completely isolated. It was a Stalinist dictatorship surrounded by Yugoslavia and the West. The Albanians dealt with the lack of access to the Soviet bloc by turning inward and basically cutting off all travel and trade outside the country. Over the four decades prior to the fall of the Soviet Union, Albania marched proudly backwards. It was never a very modern country, but by 1990, the Albanians had brought their living standards down to the level of 1850.
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union and the fall of the government of long time Albanian dictator Hoxha, there has been some progress moving the country forward. There are pockets of modernity (okay very small pockets). There is no question, however, that Albania remains backwards even by Balkan standards.
So why in the world is the EU admitting Albania? It will not help the current EU member states and it may actually punish the Albanians by forcing them to deal with all sorts of mandates from Brussels that they can ill afford.
If you needed to understand why it is that the Brits voted to leave the EU, the decision with Albania provides a great deal of important information. Britain will not have to support the Albanians or their institutions. That will be left to the Germans and the French.
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