Which Country Really Leads Europe? (Hint: It's Not Germany)

[@EUMadeSimple]

***Correction: Througout the whole video: Norway and UK obviously aren't part of the EU. And Cyprus is. Used our wrong map throughout. Sorry

[@Purpl3Bun]

Can you please make a video covering the Stop Killing Games european citizens initiative. Thank you for your work and dedication!

@@Purpl3Bun And also one covering the EU Live Bus Stop Info Initiative, as I believe you are the one speaking in their video, right? kzbin.info/www/bejne/pGTdf5aph9Zsbqc

[@georgedevries3992]

@@Purpl3Bun I doubt he will cover it since this channel focuses on geopolitics and not gaming, societal as well as intersectionality issues.

[@georgedevries3992]

That's one heretical map then!

[@EUMadeSimple]

@@georgedevries3992 it is :(

[@Komentariram]

Hint: It's not Serbia.

[@davidsantanalopez1049]

please tell me you are lying

[@Komentariram]

@@davidsantanalopez1049 It's true. I put a hint here because i know most of people would instantly think that Serbia leads Europe.

[@ivanexell-uz4mv]

@@Komentariramfr tho. Why is Serbia so worshipped? Its insignificant

[@Komentariram]

@ivanexell-uz4mv Go back to history class, bro. You skipped a lot...

[@ivanexell-uz4mv]

@@Komentariram Wait do you support Serbia or you dissing it?

[@quentinp45]

As a French, I can definitely assure that Germany is more powerful within the EU than France (may be not on global stage but only bz Germany has not built a strong independant foreign policy). EU has been built last decades around German's industry and they well lobbied and succeed ! For instance, the EU energy market puts Germany in equal position toward France even though the comparative advantage of nuclear - and, not long ago, EU directives pushed against nuclear.

[@dntbther]

This guy know Germans game. He's 100% right. They lobby the shit out of EU.

[@avb4805]

No 😂

[@olelain]

tu es un officier ? Bien sur que non.... Marine, Aircrafts, Nukes, on est les seuls. Du moins en Europe, heureusement on a nos allies britaniques.

[@quentinp45]

@@olelain Relis la parenthèse de la première phrase et tu comprendras → politique extérieure = armée, siège au conseil des NU notamment I can definitely assure that Germany is more powerful within the EU than France (may be not on global stage but only bz Germany has not built a strong independant foreign policy).

[@Jiyu567]

Short answer, France. Long answer, France, because Germany doesn´t care too much about it.

[@Jiyu567]

@@eddastrohmayer251 Das weiß ich doch Brudi. War nur ein billiges Wettpissen 😂 Wann kommt ihr Heim in den Bund?

[@eddastrohmayer251]

@@Jiyu567 Niemals! Die Deutschen haben uns einen zu starken Hang zu bräunlichem OLIVgrün !!!

[@Jiyu567]

@@eddastrohmayer251 Schade, müsst ihr aber selbst wissen. Wenn dann aber bitte die ,,deutsch Deutschen", denn ihr seid die ,,Österreicher Deutschen". Beste Grüße Edit: Ich antworte hier auf einen Kommentar, welcher nicht mehr angezeigt wird, wo meine Frage ,,Wann kommt ihr Heim in den Bund?" Mit einem ,,Gar nicht" beantwortet wurde.

[@eddastrohmayer251]

@@Jiyu567 Wir sind ÖSTERREICHER, ohne jegliches "deutsch" als Zusatz. Wir waren schon fast 1000 Jahre Österreicher bevor es Deutschland gab...🤷‍♂️ (Auch wenn meine Urahnen ua aus dem Rheinland, Bayern und Ostpreussen stammten 😊).

[@zombiefied3251]

@@eddastrohmayer251that doesn’t really make sense because many groups including austrians indentified as deutsch even before the country existed. Also Germany was ruled by Austrians for a long time. The word “deutsch” effectively translates to “the people who speak the common language”

[@sackratos23]

Actually, Spain does have an aircraft carrier. Contrary to what your graphic shows :)

[@Talhark-g5g]

Spain has aircraft carrier

[@InfectedSquid]

When mentioning militaries, why didn't you mention Poland? It has at least 216K active personnel in it's army.

[@GdzieJestNemo]

it was mentioned in the spending part

[@USEismydream]

"Special shout out to poland".

[@thracese9877]

No real defence industry, not a nuclear power, and no experience. The french army is deployed around the world

[@barber624]

​@@thracese9877 bro said poland has no experience

[@flapus_]

@@thracese9877 No experience? hahaha that was funny

[@pastvz2781]

3:07 Spain does also have an aircraft carrier

[@infrared909]

Being Belgian I know well enough that if we want to have any saying in the world, the EU is our only hope. That is the same for every small country. So cooperating more is they only way forward for all of us.

[@WilhelmEley-s3y]

It is even true for France and Germany. And not any single EU country can enforce its will against the majority of the others. So the entire discussion of "most powerful" isn't seriously relevant.

[@eternallearner5395]

France: Largest military Permanent member of the US security council Nuclear force Founding member of EU French language dominance in Belgium (the capital of EU and headquarters of NATO) Besides English, French is the second working language of NATO 2nd largest population 2nd strongest economy

[@tyler-qr5jn]

if only the UK was still in the EU to contribute to the EU's power and economy it would be right beside France and Germany

[@tott598]

60% of Belgium speaks Dutch mon frere, in Brussels its 22%, 61% French (17% both), the remaining 16% speaks neither French or Dutch. Belgium is a more capable leader because France is still very focused on France, its not as bad as the Brittish ofcourse, and it is improving, but the chauvenisme can be a bit of a problem sometimes :p. Belgium has no big ambitions, were just happy our neighbours are finnaly not trying to destroy eachother anymore, and us in the process lol. France did great for the precedency, got more deals done then anyone before during that period, but then Belgium got it and and beat the record again :).

[@tomorrowneverdies567]

As a greek person, I neither want to be "led", nor invest my money all the time to buy products from this become- african country, France, so that the african people inside it remain wealthy. 😤

[@tott598]

@@tomorrowneverdies567 thats ironic coming from someone who can be considered Arab. You need to work on that brother, thats what the kids these days call "racist af".

[@tott598]

@@tomorrowneverdies567 lol did you not like that? Dont you think its ironic what you say about Africa when Greece is often considered a Middle-Eastern country?

[@francisdebriey3609]

France is also a growing power if you consider population growth. It's one of the few EU countries with a birth rate above 2.1 necessary for population growth. Having said that, I want to highlight that I am not French but Belgian speaking French 😊

[@Sacrevert]

Amitiés à nos cousins belges

[@p4olo537]

It was the case a few years ago, now it's below 2

[@racsito39]

Francia ha hecho un excelente trabajo posicionándose culturalmente en la escena global, aumentando la perspectiva de ser un país dominante en la UE, pero Alemania es definitivamente un país poderoso por su dominante economía. Al final, en la UE no se trata de uno, sino del colectivismo.

[@fabio2634]

I agree with France being the most important country in Europe, I disagree with the conclusion that it’s best for all countries to have veto power and to have individuals from the main countries count so little. Last column of last table is unacceptable in my opinion. But then again, my Italian opinion doesn’t count so much, about half of the opinion of someone from Slovakia or Croatia, or a third of someone from a Baltic nation, or a tenth of a Maltese. This really makes no sense.

[@charlievr3995]

Spain has an aircraft carrier 😁

[@Svebderman]

Hint: It's Not Vatican City

Luxembourg has 6 MEPs too but also some of the institutions are there

[@Doverlicht]

Hint: It's not a european country.

[@francdagas3664]

Vive l’Europe !

[@alex-vj4wz]

As a small correction, you mentioned that the Spanish military force has 120,000 soldiers, but the nearly 90,000 members of the Civil Guard are also soldiers (They have military training and are under the orders of the king). As a fact, it was considered the best security force in the world by the Mossad.

[@vic_ee]

The EU Parliament is in Strasbourg?

[@ab-ym3bf]

@@HugoRodrigues1313 sometimes.

[@KedAR_48]

Most of the important sessions are held there, yes. They meet in Brussels' counterpart rarely, or for lesser occasions

[@ab-ym3bf]

@@KedAR_48 Members of the European Parliament meet twelve times a year during plenary sessions to debate and vote on European legislation. It has nothing to do with "importance" or "lesser occasions". How do people come up with nonsense like that?

[@KedAR_48]

@@ab-ym3bf Happens... Still, apologies for my misinformation. Since you seem to be informed well enough (or at rhe very least care to search this up in the Internet), would ya mind answering the original question fully?

[@thelastduden]

Also: Political Stabilty! There Germany takes the point, and not France. Sorry to let you know

[@MrMakabar]

Under Merkel that was true, but the current Scholz government is a lot less stable. The French president generally speaking runs foreign policy and that gives France a lot of stability.

[@wollebumbuy3639]

@@MrMakabar The stability of France is wearing yellow Jackets? Or loves Putin? Or thinks socialism is a good Thing, but hate EU ( left and right is same in that)? Or is it the burning Cars in Paris, if you tell the Peoples that the retire System is not working anymore, and they have to work until 63? If thats stabil, then France is.

[@padriandusk7107]

Plus the 5th French Republic gives too little power to anything trying to topple the elected president. Even during political cohabitation, France remains stable. The 80's and the 90's were completely "instable" by your standards, yet noone ever thought it really was.

[@guillaumefigarella1704]

i'm pretty sure the happy days of the german economic engine selling millions of cars with a good markup all througout the world are behind us

[@alioshax7797]

Germany atm is faaar from being anything close to "stable".

[@Letsvisit-Araz1719]

Only if Brexit hadn't taken place

[@silviaritter-langnes3348]

new third place

[@hellboy0189]

Italy might be third in terms of military and gdp but don’t forget about debt, relationship with the rest of EU members (diplomacy) and geographical position which expose us to constant massive influx of illegal migrants. This last issue was addressed several times by Italian PMs from every part of the political spectrum and guess what? Nothing was done about it, so I can’t picture Italy as the 3rd strongest nation in EU. In the EU, low debt, relationships with other EU members and geography are far more important than gdp and military power.

[@alioshax7797]

Who cares about dept. The US has a debt larger than the one of the EU combined. They still rule the world.

[@NoName-hg6cc]

And yet...it is Yes, huge public debt (France's is growing too) but much less private debt. And geopolitically, an important position in the middle of the Mediterranean

[@Kafei01]

It's more balanced that it seems. Of course there are the inevitables, those the EU can't survive without : Germany, France. If one of those two leave it's over the EU collapse (or is a useless empty shell). You are right to point the undeniable quality France possess : big army, its own nuclear bomb, pemanent membership in UN security concil with veto right, and still a decent economic power. But with the way the EU work, every member even the smallest one can block the entire Union with its veto right, in that regard everyone is powerful and Hungary is probably the country that demonstrate this power the most.

[@Belaziraf]

That's the whole point of EU. Not dominating their neighbors, but proposing path to reach a higher achievement and bigger stage as, working hand in hand. Solidarity principles are the foundation of our healthcare system, unemployment safety nets, etc ... Countries relationships follow the same principles. And that annoys deeply many nationalists. They fail to understand that it's never good to look down on the weak as it may come a day you will need them. They follow the same rules ad do make efforts to raise from the bottom. In the long run, it's better to raise everyone's standards than lowering them because it's cheaper. And it would accentuate inequality and benefit only the rich individuals and companies.

[@wollebumbuy3639]

Coz of the blocking Hungarys, you can say Russia is the most Powerful Nation in EU, Or maybe China? The Economic Winner of the EU Single Market is ( Hint ) not Germany. Its Switzerland

[@Belaziraf]

@@wollebumbuy3639 Russia is not in the EU, its territory is partly in Europe, but it's not part of the EU. What's the nonsense with China ? Switzerland has access to the single market partially. It's the country that benefits the most from the single market without being a member. There's no denying. At the same time the video is about the EU countries. It's the same as saying the the winner of a race isn't the first one, but the one who bet on him. Utter nonsense. He benefited from it but he didn't win the race.

[@Geo_Knows_Things]

Yeah. Orban's influential achievements: - 200 million euro fine, plus 1 million daily penalty for violating EU laws, - loss of EU funds - billions of euros, - exclusion from all EU committees, "quarantined" presidency, - possible exclusion from the Schengen Zone, - loss of visa-free status in the US, - loss of most-favored-nation status in the US, - very low credit rating, - loss of prestige, trust, and good will.

[@NoName-hg6cc]

Without Italy EU doesn't exist

[@hdemuizon9034]

I think that without France, Germany would have bee in dominant in the EU. Without Germany, France would have been dominant in the EU. Though I think every european citizen's vote should have the same weight. Yeah Germany, France, Italy, Spain and so on... Shouldn't be stopped by the veto of a country like Luxemburg or Malta. It clearly makes no sense.

[@deathsquad8891]

Make the Roman Empire great again

[@eddastrohmayer251]

No, what a horrible thought - an Empire all around the Mediterranean Sea 🙈

[@siadwarsame2045]

@@eddastrohmayer251Roman Empire ruled as Far North as UK, France, Netherlands, Belgium, so it wasn’t only a Mediterranean Empire but a European and middle Eastern Empire.

[@eddastrohmayer251]

​​​@@siadwarsame2045 thought of that makes it not less horrible ...

[@Passtouille31]

Hint: it's not the people

[@MR.ALFE95]

Spain has one aircraft carrier, the second biggest in the world.

[@7macfly2]

Lol

[@guillaumefigarella1704]

Lol

[@CarlosMunoz-sx7bn]

​@@nukekidontheblock8349You know how many countries have an aircraft carrier?

[@tonof.c.1397]

We do???

[@guillaumefigarella1704]

@@tonof.c.1397 okay dude, explain where this come from i'm interested on how you guys came up with that

[@Nahdue]

IT IS GERMANY WE CULD WITH OUR ECONOMY DO SO MANY ARMY and we not allowed to buildnNuclear weapons

[@MrMakabar]

Honestly with both France and Germany being relatively weak it is more and more the EU Commission leading the EU. As it should be. Germany being as strong as it was, was basically Merkel having massive stability and years of contacts. Combine that with Italy being unstable and in economic problems and France being somewhat in line and that made Germany powerful. Macron and Scholz do not seem to like each other and it somewhat shows.

[@WilhelmEley-s3y]

Yeah I think you misunderstood the dynamics. At the time the southern European countries *wanted* lots of German cash to rescue their banks.

[@timothe4317]

Manage to show a British Challenger to illustrate France’s military…

[@ZhanetaPetroska]

No one 🕐

[@PineappleSkip]

Not entirely convinced with the result. I don’t equate leadership with ability to blow things up or be a scary guy. US is a global leader more because of its outsized economic dominance, particularly the power of the USD. US military and soft power flows in its wake, because it can afford it. So I’d give my accolade to Germany. BTW I’m not American.

[@guillaumefigarella1704]

dude, thats the most modern european take on world order, military power always has and probably will always be a very defining factor. Look at russia, would you say they shine by their economic might and global reaching soft power? yet look how much they can still influence and shape geopolitics with their remainder of a soviet military the only reason the US can make free use of its ecnomic might, soft power, tech power, and so on, is because of their military

[@Geo_Knows_Things]

@@guillaumefigarella1704 yeah, great military - in the third year of a 3-day special operation, with no end in sight, and on the brink of becoming a Chinese dependency.

[@guillaumefigarella1704]

@@Geo_Knows_Things Are you pretending like the war in Ukraine isn't an unmitigated catastrophe for global peace and particularly for peace in Europe, which also greatly compounds a number of preexisting adverse global economic trends, including rising inflation, extreme poverty, increasing food insecurity, deglobalization, and worsening environmental degradation? So who cares about military power, its nothing compared to something truly mighty and definitely not fragile like the German car industry

[@eddastrohmayer251]

​@@guillaumefigarella1704I agree to you. But unfortunately EU with vdLeyen on the top follows US ambitions to destroy Europeans economic advantages ...

[@eddastrohmayer251]

Americans are good 1. In provoking wars and inventing war causes in order to finance their military industrial complex 2. In printing money

[@sarahchan5604]

Most powerful man in Europe? Answer: Zelensky

[@MarszaekVideoStudio]

without the mandate of nation..your super army has no power to move others. I am Polish and I remember the French super giga penta 6 weeks power on 1940

[@edoio.7283]

I think bro don't know the global power index, that put france 11th in the word and italy 10th

[@JMJfat]

🤣

[@guillaumefigarella1704]

that must a be a very reliable source that global power index, no the laughing stock of the entire defense and geopolitics sphere also they noted that mighty pakistan is defenitely way stronger than italy, also spain is widely known for their armed force, that are ranked higher than that of Poland, a fact well known throughout the world the french must be pissed about that ranking, those 10 000km range MIRVed submarine launched balistic missile sure are paper weight when compared to the might of italia also did you know that if we add the plane count of the garibaldi cavour and future trieste we have about half of the rafale on the de gaulle, you know the CATOBAR nuclear powered aircraft carrier that can launch E2 hawkeye

[@7macfly2]

Ah yes and where is italia is nuclear arsenal ?

[@edoio.7283]

@@7macfly2 i think an international agency famous in all the word know a little bit more than you

[@guillaumefigarella1704]

@@7macfly2 I don't think Pakistan's nukes are particularly credible as an all out deterrence, they could not strike Italy the way other nuclear power can as an example, they have weak industrial base, zero expeditionary capabilities, are not part of nato, just not comparable

[@jonasg1868]

The minimum number in the EU parliament is not that big of a deal. Strasburg is! If you are not happy with the decision of your country's court, you can ask for help from the court in Strasburg. Beautiful place!

[@konstantinoszoupalis8449]

It is Germany

[@siadwarsame2045]

No it’s not, Germany can’t be a leader because it’s an American vassal state lol

[@avb4805]

😂 what a joke

[@Micha-qv5uf]

why do you discuss such a nonsense? Nobody leads Europe. Thats kinda the idea of the EU...

[@imogendunstan3603]

This is an oxymoron 🤭 as an aussie that understands power having nukes and really cheap nulclear power is probably good

[@Geo_Knows_Things]

Hungary the third most influential country? - it's a sad laugh. While Orban's hostile stance makes him the most-talked-about EU leader, he wastes away the goodwill of Hungary's allies - for example - losing the much-needed EU finances, - being hit with heavy fines, - getting his EU-presidency quarantined and impotent, - losing the mos-favored-nation and the visa-free USA status, - now risking exclusion from the Schengen Zone. Orban made Hungary not only the poorest member of the EU, but the least influential, too.

[@KevinAdams26]

Wasn't Italy 3rd?

[@Geo_Knows_Things]

@@KevinAdams26 yes, so it seems. Though the cuts @4:20 and @6:52 both suggest that the surprise bronze is HU.

[@KevinAdams26]

@@Geo_Knows_Things Neither of those timestamps shows a flag, however if you meant thew rankings, That is the Italian flag, NOT Hungarian!

[@Geo_Knows_Things]

​@@KevinAdams26 I meant the sequences starting around those points. At both times the narrator seems to hold that orban's soft power makes him all powerful. Given the introductory suggestion "Could it be even Hungary?", it's the subliminal message of the video. But, as you can tell from many other comments, the general opinion is as mine: orban's negativism makes him the weakest EU state head.

[@KevinAdams26]

@@Geo_Knows_Things No, it simply says that Orban has been exercising a veto power that stops the EU from performance. And that is the reason EU reform is needed prior to any expansion. And again, you have the flag wrong.

[@islamicedits3062]

I JUST LAUGH WHEN THEY SHOW GERMAN MILITARY BECAUSE AUSTRIAN PAINTER CAME INTO MY MIND

[@IM3PMN]

1:00 thats japanese yen, not chinese yuan

[@arisplugis5197]

HINT: this is why i vote for far right and against European Federation. my little 2 million people country wouldn't have a say at all when federal policy is decided. and also, we would need to change a constitution to disband a republic. that would require 65% parliament majority or win in a referendum.

[@tomorrowneverdies567]

As a greek person, I neither want to be "led", nor invest my money all the time to buy products from this become- african country, France, so that the african people inside it remain wealthy. 😤

[@arisplugis5197]

@@tomorrowneverdies567 i am Latvian. and i do not want German 'Wir schaffen das' being imposed on my country. Merkel was insane to open borders in 2015. who is to say that there will be no more insane German leaders in future?

[@arisplugis5197]

@@tomorrowneverdies567 i am a Latvian. and i do not want German 'Wir schaffen das' being enforced on me.

[@tonijebambus8953]

@@arisplugis5197 Respect to you bro. NO to USE and NO to European Federation

[@uroboros4260]

yes tovarisch, you're doing a good work, keep it up

[@Dennan]

this title feels american, every country in eu are leading it with coperation.

[@tomorrowneverdies567]

bhahahaha

[@Dennan]

@@tomorrowneverdies567 well they are, far from every policy benefit the big one.

[@klee1987]

USA

[@Geodemm]

Cyprus is also an EU country btw

[@garethbrown9191]

According to your map Luxembourg isn't part of the EU

[@felicehomestream1650]

With The UN being weakened before our eyes and economic strength completely doped this video does not mean much today..

[@BughunterX]

Hint: It will be Poland!

[@hbecph]

The us lead the EU #frexit et viiiite

[@guillaumefigarella1704]

avoue t'es un facho, t'as voté qui? aussi tu sait que le pen ne veut pas d'un frexit? aprés avoir vu les conséquence pour les anglais ça a refroidi les melloni le pen et autre je te laisse google les détails, tu peut peu étre voté asselineau si tu y tiens particuliérement hein

[@RathYHWH]

Germany needs to get reed of islam

[@soundscape26]

That's not doable

[@BirdEgg123]

Easy: It's Slovenia and Cyprus, no questions asked. Don't @ me.

[@KRIS-152]

I disagree - where is Poland?

[@MisTrzYogi]

Not yet

[@zamperlinimassimo]

China, matter of facts !

[@dankenk]

The Islamic republic of France!????

[@ahmaddeeni]

Trick question its the United States.

[@deggho5877]

is this propaganda or what... feels like it

[@Wikant18]

POLAND🇵🇱🇵🇱🇵🇱🇵🇱🇵🇱🇵🇱🇵🇱🇵🇱

[@lubokanev7436]

Great video, but putting Hungray 3rd in anything is a total joke.

[@mitjabrglez9599]

It's Luxembourg, no doubt!

[@potatogamble]

UK diplomatic power globally is above frances..?

[@eddastrohmayer251]

UK diplomatic power is proxy power of US, nothing else...

[@guillaumefigarella1704]

google it 😉

[@siadwarsame2045]

who UK? the American vassal state 😂😂

[@albevanhanoy]

As a French, it's important to be aware of our influence and use it sparsely. Europe is not a game about dominating the others, but about cooperating to reach new heights together.

[@EUMadeSimple]

Nicely said.

[@angemalaurie6074]

we shouldnt use it to the detriment of other member of the union but we should use it along other countrys who agree with use on certain topics like human rights in the union or LGBT rights, for example when some EU member country start either controling their medias and journals or when they start taking actions against minoritys like the lgbt

[@buddy1155]

Let me welcome our new baguette eating overlords.

[@marcomammuth9536]

free Corsica!

[@tomorrowneverdies567]

As a greek person, I want Greece to stop cooperating with all countries with immigration policies such as your country, and form an economic protective union with countries which do not allow the immigration of people with less good quality of phenotype.

[@MartinZhel]

The real answer is the U.S. 😂

[@eddastrohmayer251]

Unfortunately the last few years with vdLeyen at the top you are right...

[@andriyyablinchuk9931]

You basically hit the nail on the head😂

[@miniamaba6963]

Ok russian bots

[@dand337]

@@eddastrohmayer251 Von der leyen is not so bad. Could've been worse

[@eddastrohmayer251]

​​​​​@@dand337 She is - bad and worse vdLeyen and Kallas.

[@xornxenophon3652]

No single country can "lead the EU". Even France and Germany together cannot force their ideas on the rest of the EU, even though those two may effectively veto the idea of others together. That is the whole point of the EU. Larger countries, like Italy, Spain or Poland cannot be ignored as well. And even small countries, like Hungary, can cause a lot of trouble, as many decisions can only be made if all member-states agree.

[@MrTohawk]

Sure, but for a qualified majority on the council countries with a combined 65% of the populations are needed. Germany and France together have 33.5% of the population. Which means that anything both are not supporting, even if they're abstaining, is doomed to fail

[@paul1979uk2000]

Germany and France do carry a lot of weight in the EU, but that doesn't mean they can do whatever they want, they have to get enough support from enough EU members to get things done, and this is the case for all EU countries, big or small, if they've got any constructive ideas and can get enough support from other EU members, the odds of these ideas being implemented are boosted, and these ideas can come from any EU country, big or small. So the key to influence in the EU is working with other EU members, being constructive and also willing to compromise, of the big countries, Germany and France have been good at this over the decades when compared to the UK or Italy which have not been that great at it, many small EU members are also good at it, it's all about being a team player where the real influence and power is when it comes to the EU.

[@ab-ym3bf]

@@MrTohawk 100 minus 33.5= 66.5%. In my book that is still above 65%, be it marginal.

[@AdrianCHOY]

EU is more of an ideology

[@eddastrohmayer251]

Actually Germany and France together are the motor of EU. If they do not cooperate or disagree on matters it becomes difficult. And it is known fact that many Initiatives our outcomes of negotiations are prepared in secret advance by these 2 countries. Other member States get often "surprised" ...

[@Antoraf16]

As a Frenchman, I believe we'd better keep the union by associating our forces. It's not about who is the best in the EU as you said at then end. it's about giving the best for the Union to make us stronger and happier. Big Love to all my fellow Europeans.

[@tomorrowneverdies567]

As a greek person, I neither want to be "led", nor invest my money all the time to buy products from this become- african country, France, so that the african people inside it remain wealthy. 😤

[@victimized1]

@@tomorrowneverdies567 So you'd rather become a russian or a chinese puppet? Last time I checked, Greece's economy was not doing well. Leaving a politico-economical union that benefits you is sure as hell a smart move /s Look at UK, a country with a much stronger economy than yours: after leaving the EU, they are in a non-stop economical issues.

[@tomorrowneverdies567]

@@victimized1 Why does a country like Greece need to become a russian (😂) or chinese puppet? Is Japan a chinese or russian puppet? Is South Korea? Is Kazakhstan? Ukraine? Australia? New Zealand? "Last time I checked, Greece's economy was not doing well" - I prefer Greece to remain poorer than countries like the US, UK, Germany, France, rather than it become inhabited by people of (even) less good quality of phenotype. "Leaving a politico-economical union that benefits you is sure as hell a smart move /s" - it is not worth to leave the EU for Greece. Why? Because all immigrants who enter Greece, will sooner or later just move to Germany and France, because of the architecture of the EU, and the fact that Greece is a much less good place for them to live, than Germany and France. "Look at UK, a country with a much stronger economy than yours: after leaving the EU, they are in a non-stop economical issues" - so why isn't Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Australia, Canada in non-stop economical issues then? I'll tell you why! Because the economy is not the result of free economic activity of people as the secret organization which governs all these countries wants us to believe, but the result of political (and other) motivation. In other words, if they want Uganda to become wealthier than Sweden, they can do that in less than 10 years time 😁 No matter what simple people like myself (and yourself perhaps) do (economically, politically, etc.).

[@mmaszuu]

One European army is a good idea in my opinion, at least countries that can't spend a lot on the military can now be protected by the EU

[@mmaszuu]

Plus with the US continuous instability within inside, we shouldn't trust NATO that much, imo

[@eternallearner5395]

Without finishing this video, I know it is going to be France.

[@eternallearner5395]

Yup I was right...

[@EUMadeSimple]

hahah u were

[@AdrianCHOY]

Is France military disciplined enough? Their culture is so laxed

[@eddastrohmayer251]

Actually it is not France ! Almost always France and Germany together. If they do not cooperate or disagree work becomes very difficult - also for France! That's my experience of many years of work within EU.

[@monalisa111]

EU Marionetten vernichten Europa EU ist endshit Raus aus der EU!!!!!- rettet Länder Ein Land ohne Grenze IST KEIN LAND !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@imcbocian]

To say that some country leads EU imply that others follow. And thats clearly not the case. At best we can talk about the strongest pusher, not leader.

[@tomorrowneverdies567]

To say that some country pushes EU imply that others are pushed. 😁

[@imcbocian]

@tomorrowneverdies567 and that, more often than not, is reality 😃

[@Bobogdan258]

Romania politically speaking is more of a follower and in the EU we're following France the most.

[@ab-ym3bf]

Wouldn´t "most influential" be a more proper term? Since all have the same voting rights, no one is "leading" or "pushing". You get what you want within the EU by trying to convince as much other countries as possible for yout POV. Consensus politics, a concept that used to be leading in the Netherlands before idiots like Wilders popped up.

[@eddastrohmayer251]

Actually on most matters France and Germany are the common motor. If they do not cooperate or disagree work becomes very difficult. And it is a fact they often prepare initiatives or solutions for negotiations in secret advance and "surprise" other Member States with them... That's my experience of many years of work in Brussels.

[@wojciechp]

Actually Poland has the biggest army personnel in UE and 3rd in NATO, after USA and Turkey.

[@Wojciech-g2s]

He has been living under a rock.

[@aliceg6745]

Yes, Poland has a growing army but it will never match that of France or the UK. The French army carries out external operations, has bases in many places, has nuclear weapons and produces its own equipment. Poland depends 100% on the Americans or the French. We have to stop the bullshit. The French army is the most efficient in the EU and I am convinced that a Chinese or an American would say the same thing.

[@Wojciech-g2s]

@@aliceg6745 One can agree or disagree with your statement when you say “never”, however there is no discussion about the fact stated by @wojciechp Poland has the third largest army in NATO after USA and Turkey, and France is below that. This is all that he said. A fact. Not a prediction. Also the author of this video missed it, not just you.

[@alioshax7797]

​@@Wojciech-g2sLargest in terms of manpower indeed. But it's like saying India has a more powerful military than the US, because they have more men. Such assertion is ridiculous. Same goes for the idea that Poland would be the main military power in the EU.

[@Wojciech-g2s]

@@wojciechp Nobody in this comment thread even said who is “the main military power in the EU” so your comment is off topic. In his initial comment @wojciechp only said “biggest army personnel”. Why do you French people nervously need to assert “France is the main power here”. 😅 Do you guys really feel that you are endangered by Poland as the leader in Europe? 😂 By the way, it’s not just the military. Warsaw, as compared to Paris, is more beautiful, more modern, and more safe. Even the tallest skyscraper in the EU is located in Warsaw, not Paris.

[@Carthodon]

It would seem to me that the country which leads the EU is the one where its internal politics define the EU's politics as a whole. I'm not sure there is a European country that truly does that but if I was to guess it would still be Germany.

[@veronicajensen7690]

it was the case under Merkel , now Washington define EU politics more than any country in EU

[@Carthodon]

@@veronicajensen7690 On foreign policy sort of if we ignore things like military spending or relationship to China, but most policy is domestic and there I still think Germany dominates. The way regulation of the economy is approached, military procurement, environmental policy, human rights, determining when a country has broken EU law and immigration seems to be defined as always orbiting whatever is the German attitude to it.

[@eddastrohmayer251]

I agree to both of you - foreign policy is unfortunately totally in Washington's hands now, that is bc of weak German government and bad VdLeyen - policies. And true, on the many internal matters the influence of Germany is very big. But I would nevertheless say that still Germany and France are the common motor of EU.

[@Carthodon]

@@eddastrohmayer251 So in determining leadership I would look at what are the desires of each country and how much has been accomplished toward that end. France wants: A European Army Military procurement that prioritizes heavily European manufacturers Deficit spending sponsored by the EU to increase innovation/competitiveness heavy regulation of multinational companies Germany wants: Basically none of that except the regulation of multinational companies. Who won these arguments so far? From what I can tell, anything France wants that Germany doesn't is basically dead in the water. In contrast, whenever Germany decides on things like closing borders to migrants or opening them up or military support for Ukraine the rest of Europe will follow with a few notable exceptions.

[@domingorodriguez1824]

Hungary? really?

[@Blanka1100]

At being the biggest troublemaker, that is for sure.

[@svxernova]

"you want in Europe all the illegal immingrants? then I'm gonna pay them all a ticket to Bruxelles so you know what that means" orban real chad

[@hjvdd]

What the most important is in my opinion is that europe should work together and unite more. So not 1 country can rise to the top

[@thierryf67]

EU is not an Olympic competition that one country should lead. Thinking that means you didn't understood what is the E.U. It's a cooperation and an union that would give every member more strength then the sum of every member.

[@gijbuis]

'Force de frappe' is the name of the game!

[@The_Minute_History]

A few honorable mentions. 1. Spain does have an aircraft carrier contrary to what was listed 2. Italy does have two carriers, but it is generally accepted that since France's carrier is powered by nuclear energy that it has a technological edge (though obviously debatable given different military doctrines) 3. It might not be a smart idea to just put on paper figures without taking into consideration things like an arms industry. For example, a country like Poland has a large amount of equipment and is buying even more, but a lot of what equipment is purchased from countries like the US, meaning that the spending does not stay at home. Countries like Italy, France, Germany, UK, Spain, and Sweden do better in this regard. 4. Not all equipment is equivalent. For example, a country might only have 10 fighter jets. But if those ten fighter jets are F-16s and they go up against 25 F-5s, the F-16s will definitely win 5. While I get that this is an analysis of the EU member states, I still do feel as though it might have been interesting to throw the UK in there for good measure given that in many matters it is arguable that the UK and France go blow for blow 6. Spain's immense soft power influence in the world (especially Latin America) was never mentioned 7. Italy's immense soft power influence in Europe and around the world through its large Italian ancestry links abroad was not mentioned Definitely a good video though. Covers all the basics for sure.

[@metchoumetch3176]

Spain has a small STOVL aircrat carrier, if you think like that, France has 3 more aicraft carriers (Mistral, Tonnerre, Dixmude). The diference between STOVL and CATOBAR is huge in terms of aircraft range and payload. You need 2 or 3 planes to match 1 CATOBAR capacity. If you know "Not all equipment is equivalent" for planes why on AC don't you use this way of think?

[@timothe4317]

@@metchoumetch3176 THIS

[@treeburger]

Hint: It's not the UK

[@MaRio-jw7fd]

Having a capable military that only defends their country is not a good indicator that France leads the EU. No country leads the EU in the sense that other countries follow it.

[@maynamar2517]

You were happy to see French special forces save your hostages in Africa and all over the world. Come on shut up.

[@MaRio-jw7fd]

@@maynamar2517 Easy dude, don't lose your manners over some guy from the internet with another opinion. I don't even know of which hostages you're talking about. Were french nuclear weapons, tanks or aircraft carriers involved in that rescue mission?

[@tomorrowneverdies567]

As a greek person, I neither want to be "led", nor invest my money all the time to buy products from this become- african country, France, so that the african people inside it remain wealthy. 😤

[@RuthlessVibesBB]

you prefer to have the protection of the Yankees, even if they make you sing puppets, we will have our destiny in our hands

[@maynamar2517]

@@tomorrowneverdies567 I THINK YOU ARE TURKISH NOT GREEK.

[@2lives706]

Hint: its not germany, its called arabs and turks land

[@MamaMia-go7co]

Shut up

[@mihiec]

Germany control all money and industries.

[@Nahdue]

Yes and we could do much bigger army then france and have still more money then them

[@hellboy0189]

And also politics

[@alioshax7797]

​@@NahdueYou could indeed. But you're so affraid of yourself, or of doing any kind of independant foreign policy not avalidated by Washington that up to this day, the German army remains a joke.

[@WilhelmEley-s3y]

@@alioshax7797 honestly no. What would German use a large military for? The UK and France have overseas territories, and large mining corporations as a legacy from their empire. Germany doesn't have overseas territories (other than Helgoland LOL). Germany also doesn't have large mining corporations, as it lost its empire in WW1. What would Germany do with the large military??? Poland has a large military because they are neighboring Russia, like Germany had a large military during the cold war as it neighbored the warsaw pact states. Germany for its relative strategic needs and requirements actually has a pretty high defense budget. If German suddenly decided to not have a military at all, it would STILL NOT be kicked out of NATO, due to its central strategic position as a logistics hub in the center of Europe, it would just be still super valueable for NATO. So Germany being willing to spend as much money as it does, is rather on the generous end by Germany.

[@Skiipis-qv9nl]

@@Nahdue absolutely no, if u did a bigger army ur economy would be at the same level as spain, yall already spend more than france, the true question if what if france spent as much as germany in millitary.

[@VillaDish]

Loved the video and the new animation!

[@aliceg6745]

- France militarily - Germany economically The two powers of the EU and which weigh internationally. And there's one thing that many forget: it's demographics. France has always had a higher birth rate than the rest of other European countries and NO it is not immigration that promotes this birth rate. France has always had a family policy that works well. All other European countries are failing demographically apart from France in the large European countries. Yes, Poland has a growing army but it will never match that of France or the UK. The French army conducts external operations, has bases in many places, has nuclear weapons and produces its own equipment. Poland depends 100% on the Americans or the French. We have to stop the bullshit. The French army is the most efficient in the EU and I am convinced that a Chinese or an American would say the same thing. And economically, Germany is very strong with great industry. And a large population (although it is in decline unlike France). Without France and Germany, the EU weighs nothing. Sorry but it's a truth.

[@NoName-hg6cc]

There are few others. Italy economy and military power is important too and without it EU doesn't exist. Poland is also important military and increasingly economically. Spain is perhaps among the most important nations for economy and so are Denmark, Sweden, Finland Everyone is important

[@mambo2412]

🇮🇹💪

[@swiatlojest9136]

is has always been between Germany and France the balance of power. If you go more granular, it also depedends who is the leader in each respective country. For example, when Merkel was in power, there was no doubt EU was directed by her guidance. Nowadays, i think Macron has more power.

[@Skiipis-qv9nl]

Honestly even tho it's not a game of who is the leader or stuff, france probably is more likely the true leader of the eu as it could basically protect any eu nations from getting attacked due to it's nukes, basically it's like the dad of the eu. Also france is a growing power while germany is falling one, so the gap will be stretching by the time.

[@Yorinobu1447]

Poland is spending almost 5% of its GDP on military. No 3,9%. Current GDP is 830 bilion USD and they spend 40billion USD annual

[@WilhelmEley-s3y]

Yes, but that doesn't translate into geostrategic power, this is like saying cold war West Germany was powerful because it had the largest NATO landforces in Europe in the cold war. Cool story West Germany had no way to project power anywhere else, unlike UK and France as all its military resources were tied to its eastern Border as to deter Soviet aggression, in the same way Polish resources are tied to their eastern Border as to deter Russian aggression. Also precisely why Poland has that large defense Budget in the first place, if they happened to be located next to Spain they wouldn't have it. The large Polish defense budget is a sign of a strategic vulnerability of their country, not a strategic strength like France's or the UK's

[@jaapfolmer7791]

There can only be one Europe: a European Europe. Not a German one, a French one, a Hungarian one or a Maltese one.

[@tomorrowneverdies567]

As a greek person, I neither want to be "led", nor invest my money all the time to buy products from this become- african country, France, so that the african people inside it remain wealthy. 😤

[@nukekidontheblock8349]

E European continent, not a fake illegal EU

[@pierren___]

Long live the Confederation of Europe

[@European-Federation]

@@tomorrowneverdies567 Racist. All of citizens of France are french citizens and europeans citizens.

[@European-Federation]

@@tomorrowneverdies567 Tu ne sais pas de quoi tu parle, tais-toi.

[@analuisaibarra8143]

The difference is that Germany can build an Army bigger and better than their neighbours if they wanted.

[@freefinance8369]

No.

[@analuisaibarra8143]

@@freefinance8369 yes

[@Syt2222]

No

[@szaboattila844]

A minor correction: with politicians like Scholtz, U.v.d.Leyen, Pistorius, Baerbock etc , Germany cannot propose ANYTHING that does not look ridiculous! (Germany, in its history, has never had so many caricatures in the pile , like now !) - The current Labor government of the U.K. is next in line >> in : "the worst set of politicians of the year" !

[@E.S207]

Mit der Richtigen Regierung Ja aber nicht mit Scholz

[@Dave-8220]

United States

[@nicolasrey2754]

The European Parliament is located in Strasbourg (France)

[@lambradi]

there are two buildings, one is in Brussels. Also, as far as I know, most eu parliamentarians would rather drop the obligation of going to Strasbourg every now and then

[@Mabinho944]

European Parliament is located in Strasbourg France, not Brussels !!! A lot of mistakes in this video

[@Dino-hv7rn]

😂😂😂USA

[@TheScipio3]

I’m curious: if the UK would still be in the EU, would it suppress France based on the same metrics shown in this video?

[@VictorPanainte]

Thanks for this information

[@DanielHerrera-rl1vw]

Spain 🇪🇸 better get it together

[@GonzoTehGreat]

Uhm, where's the 🇺🇸? 🙄

[@Geo_Knows_Things]

oh, that ... the US is not an EU member; as a matter of fact, it's not even on the same continent.

[@GonzoTehGreat]

@@Geo_Knows_Things So what? Consider the video title. Also, the EU isn't Europe.

[@Geo_Knows_Things]

@@GonzoTehGreat the video is about the EU. And the EU is on the European Continent. Organize your thoughts. Also, if you want see things into this video, the US is not leading Europe, it's leading the world.

[@GonzoTehGreat]

@@Geo_Knows_Things The video is about Europe, not the EU. Appreciate the difference. Also, the title does not say "leads IN Europe"...

[@eddastrohmayer251]

​​​@@Geo_Knows_Things As a matter of fact EU the last few years, when vdLeyen took over Presidency of European Commission, has become a subordinate of USA. It's a real shame, weakens Europe and even is dangerous for our security!

[@danielm6319]

Founding members of EU, equally plus Spain. France, Germany Benelux and Italy.

[@RoccoLog]

Spain is not a founding country.

[@ivanmacgar6447]

​@@RoccoLog it says "Founding members of the EU PLUS Spain". It's not even saying Spain is a founding member. And tbh, if you add Poland I agree the bulk of the EU power is amongst those (Founding members: France, Germany, Italy, Benelux), Spain and Poland.

[@RoccoLog]

@@ivanmacgar6447 Ah ok, I had read it wrong.

[@djtechzz]

Can you compare Japan and France please

[@MRMixedup]

As a person from Malta, out of all the videos Malta could have been mention on from EU made simply, this wasn't one of them 😂 (I'm happy we did though)

[@00martoneniris86]

Could you make an video on the eu founders

[@jjcc02]

I believe Spain should have been in the top 3 countries with most influence of the EU. First of all there is no such an influential culture or language in the whole world as both English and Spanish. Second of all it's always either on top 1 or top 2 most visited countries. Third despite the little investment on the military this last 40 years is still one of the strongest militaries in whole Europe which shouldn't be counted just the army but other institutions as the civil guard. Fourth Spanish passport is the most useful passport in the whole world. Fifth although the current Spanish government is disliked by many due to its mismanagement it should be acknowledged that next to Italy it got the most amount of the European funds against Covid 19. Sixth it is still one of the most populated countries in whole Europe. Seventh as France it has access to both the Atlantic ocean and the Mediterranean sea this being fundamental for naval trade routes but also being in a key geographical position due to its proximity to the African Continent while also being a key connection with the American Continent. Taking all this into account it should be highlighted that although I agree with most of was said on this video there is very little countries with as much as potential as Spain that if it were better managed it would be on higher positions on some of these aspects in which EU counties were tier listed if not in the highest.