DISINFO: The EU was based on the economic expansion of Germany
SUMMARY
Everyone [in Europe] wants to live like the Germans, in exchange for freedom, sovereignty and everything. With the loss of economic prosperity, ends the utopian project called the European Union, which was based on the economic expansion of Germany, with a temporary compensation for the losses of the poor countries of the Union.
RESPONSE
A claim provided with no evidence. This claim promotes a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the EU's alleged imminent collapse and disintegration.
The European Union is a unique economic and political union between 27 EU countries that together cover much of the continent.
The predecessors of the EU, such as the European Coal and Steel Community and then the European Economic Community (EEC), were created as a result of World War II, in the aftermath of Germany's defeat. The first steps were to foster economic cooperation: the idea being that countries that trade with one another become economically interdependent and so more likely to avoid conflict.
The result was the European Economic Community (EEC), created in 1957, and initially increasing economic cooperation between six countries: Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
Since then, 22 other members joined and a huge single market (also known as the 'internal' market) has been created and continues to develop towards its full potential.
Although it is true that the seeds of the Union were purely economic, it has quickly evolved into an organization spanning policy areas, from climate, environment and health to external relations and security, justice and migration.