DISINFO: The EU will split in half within five years
SUMMARY
The EU will start to fall apart after Brexit, this is the beginning. This process will continue because the EU has exhausted itself. There is no new idea for building [the Union]. Within five years, we will see the European Union split into at least two levels: rich and poor countries. And then the Latvians will think: whom should we join? I think they will ask to join their neighbour, Russia, because there is nowhere else.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the EU's alleged imminent collapse. There is no evidence to support the claim that the EU is collapsing.
In 2017, the leaders of the EU countries adopted and signed the Rome Declaration setting out a joint vision for the years to come which stated: "We have united for the better. Europe is our common future."
The EU leaders pledged to work towards a safe and secure Europe, a prosperous and sustainable Europe, a social Europe and a stronger Europe on the global scene.
Support for the EU, as shown in the 2019 Eurobarometer poll, remains very high in the EU countries. Continued support for EU membership goes with a strong belief (68%) that EU countries overall have benefited from being part of the EU - equalling the highest level recorded since 1983. In addition, 61% of respondents say their country’s EU membership is a good thing. Asked if a referendum was held tomorrow regarding the country's membership of the EU, 65% of Latvians would vote to stay in the EU.
See similar disinformation cases alleging that the EU may collapse in our database: EU to fall apart in 20-30 years, Poland and Hungary are likely to leave the EU, the Western democracy is in crisis, Europe is falling apart and only Russia can save it, EU leadership crisis was revealed in combating coronavirus, the bureaucracy leads to the collapse of the EU.