The fact that Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania were given membership to the EU is baffling.

Fast forward to today, Liviu Dragnea is serving time for abuse of power, Bulgaria is still dealing with corruption and the Hungary government continues its assault on democracy.

It's beggar's belief why any of these nations membership has not been suspended.

Liviu Dragnea (from Romania) serving time in prison is a good example of us having a functional justice system.

While the arrangement has been very beneficial for us, let's not forget that the EU does need a market to sell inferior products at a premium and they do need our seasonal workers and our educated as well, who would otherwise flee to the US and elsewhere.

I cannot speak for other countries, but seeing the vitriol here gives me a deja vu of the anti-Romanians Brexit campaign.

You know, it was hilarious seeing the UK begging us to send them workers in this Covid crisis ;-)

Isn’t EU’s top anti corruption official Bulgarian? I don’t think she got there by being bad at her job

No. She is Romanian. As a result, Romania's GDP was going in a much better trajectory before the local politicians tried to stop her and bring the country back on the old corruption path.

The old elite fighting back was inevitable.

I am optimistic however. These things happen in a two steps forward, one step back fashion. And unfortunately for the corrupt in this country the geenie is already out of the bottle.

You'll see in the following years.

My Romanian bretheren tend to be more pessimistic. I recommend this book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34890015-factfulness

I wouldn't overlook the geopolitical aspect, specifically on the russian front.

Exports from Germany imported to poor member state you mean

Hungary: Export surplus to Germany https://oec.world/en/profile/country/hun

Bulgaria: Export surplus to Germany https://oec.world/en/profile/country/bgr

Romania: Balanced trade https://oec.world/en/profile/country/rou

Would you mind clarifying what you're referring to?

This is because of the exported feedstocks. If you go to Bulgaria (or any other Balkan country) you will see the land drown in german goods.

Is this a bad thing? We get to use the money from the export surplus to modernize other industries. It is not surprising that a poorer country will be in the agriculture business as it develops. For a positive change, see how the software industry in Sofia has been growing. It will take time to revive mid and heavy industries.

It's a bad thing if you dont take advantage of it. The problem is the Eastern European countries never did. They never stood a chance in the first place.

You need to own the value chain if you want to get richer.

I'd bet India also had an export surplus to the UK when it was a colony.

So, thank you for shedding light on the whole of the German plot. I hadn't realized that the Eastern Europe countries were admitted to the EU so the German industry could source components and raw materials without import fees.

So, OP complained about an import surplus. You complain about an export surplus.

The only two alternatives are no trade, or a perfectly balanced trade. Neither one are realistic goals.