[sergiosgc]

I'm Portuguese, so read this as a view from outside. Brexit traded rigid limits on national action for soft limits. It is bonkers, because the soft limits are much harsher!

Take, for example, trade policy. Facing trade tariffs from the US, Europe can call the bluff, the UK is way too small to have any cards on the negotiating table. It is much better to be in a huge economic block than to face the bully alone. On paper you have more formal power alone, in practice you have no power whatsoever on your own.

The absence of formal action limits can be deceitful. Limits are not only there anyhow, they are worse for you outside the economic block.

So, no, you won't be better in 20 years. In fact, given the direction the world is going, you'll be worse than even today.