Could someone explain the rationale for countries like Sweden or Finland to join the EU if they could simply reap the economic benefits via alternative agreements like Norway and Switzerland do (EEA, EFTA)? This way ordinary citizens can take advantage of cheaper labor and goods without giving up their voting representation. So what else is there to be gained from the EU for richer countries?
EDIT: I see how joining the EU can be a political strategy to act as a counter-block to mega-powers like the US, Russia, or China but Sweden and Finland are (or at least have been) neutral countries.
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Swede living in Berlin here. The absolute best part of the EU is free movement across borders. I can just decide to live anywhere in the EU, work anywhere in the EU, and not have to do anything more bureaucratic than tell the government where I live. No applications, no visa, no work permit, no nothing.
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