I refer to Jos Edmond Zarb’s letter ‘Rebel EU states’ (January 20).

I have said this before: the EU is modelled exactly on what used to be the USSR – a bunch of countries gradually and furtively conned into joining a union (most of them after being coerced into a second referendum where the people had voted ‘No’ first time round), a union that is run by unelected faceless bureaucrats overseen by Germany, all forced to comply with rules that the major ‘four’ tend to pick and choose as it suits them.

When I said in previous letters that Malta had given up its independence, the reply came back from readers that “Malta is still independent but within Europe”. A contradiction in terms. Tell that to the four ex-Soviet bloc countries that Zarb referred to. Who else would know better what comprises oppression and coercion?

Indeed, this is amply evidenced by Brexit. See how the words ‘punish’, ‘no deal’ and ‘economic catastrophe’ have been banded around. And we’re talking here about the UK, a rich country, not some member state which is a step away from the third world, having joined the EU just to pick up scraps from under the table.

Sadly, no one country in the EU is even close to being able to do what the Brits are doing, otherwise there will be an exodus and the bureaucrats hanging on to the gravy train will lose their grip on power and money.

So, it’s a question of waiting and seeing what happens when Jean-Claude Juncker and his cronies start imposing taxes and forcing countries to join some ineffective ‘European army’. Then the real fireworks will ignite.