Systemics: If Greece, Portugal and Ireland formed a political union

Food for thought:

If Greece, Portugal and Ireland formed a Political Union, the resulting polity would have a combined population (1/1/2009 Eurostat data) of

26.4 million

making it the 7th largest member of the EU (see here)

the 5th in the Eurozone and the 6th in the Europlus.

Its nominal GDP (2009 World Bank data) would be 784,884 million USD ie 6.3% of Eurozone nominal GDP (2009).

Hence:

5) Spain 45.8

6) Poland 38.1

7) Romania 21.5

8) Netherlands 16.5

Would become:

5) Spain 45.8

6) Poland 38.1

7) Greece + Portugal + Ireland 26.4

8) Romania 21.5

9) Netherlands 16.5

Here is a rough comparison with the NL:

Netherlands

Pop (2009) 16.5 million

GDP (2009) 792,128 million USD

GDP per capita 48007

Greece+Portugal+Ireland

Pop (2009) 26.4 million

GDP (2009) 784,884 million USD

GDP per capita (USD, 2009) 29730

Based on the 2009 World Bank nominal GDP data the G+P+I would have the 6th highest GDP (size of economy) in the Eurozone (after Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands).

Onviously, a theoretically "exercise", but IMO "systemically" insightful.