Euroscepticism is not a prevailing sentiment in Belgium. Though intra-regional rifts lead a few hardliners to imagine breaking up the country, the chances of Belgium extracting itself from the Union (that it hosts) are virtually nil.
Whereas politicians abroad might proclaim the EU is holding them back, over here Belgium is seen as indivisible from the institutions that have brought peace and prosperity since the major conflicts of the 20th century. Thanks to the EU, Belgium's voice is greatly amplified giving it an enviable position on matters of policy that are felt around the world.
All the same, it's sometimes worth being reminded of the benefits of something that might otherwise be taken for granted. Whilst Belgians appreciate the protection and status that come with its spot at the centre of the EU stage, there's nothing like hard economics to put a price tag on less tangible values added.
So next time someone asks what the EU really does for you, perhaps the answer (for Belgians) is that we'd be 10.2% worse off per capita if we were to lose our membership. And though the state of Belgium's economy isn't the most enviable, the deficit would likely be untenable were we not integrated into the world's strongest economic union.
It's little surprise that demand to join the EU is high, as is support from those who already have membership. Of course, with a recent example of the cost of leaving, speculation about how green the grass might be over there has now been superseded by solid data (4% browner, according to the UK Government's own Office for Budget Responsibility).
Overstretching the metaphor? Let @Orlando_tbt know.
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