Yes, a real mixed bag - with some very significant downsides. Like any community/union/institution probably.
The usual crusty old Brexit supporting suspects in parts of the media (and on social media/football message boards) absolutely love bad news from the continent - French riots, German recession, growth of the far right. Always the same line from them - a vindication of loosening links, and evidence that the EU is heading for its certain demise.
Except, of course, talk to ordinary people on the continent and look at the research, and you get a different picture. Popularity for the EU amongst the populations of member states has grown since Ukraine and Brexit, including amongst smaller states.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...c-since-brexit
(Yes, the Guardian. Sceptics are welcome to post any counter evidence).
So, has the EU improved Europe?. Well, we don’t have the counterfactual. But if you believe the research, most people across the Continent would rather be in that out, contrary to what the UK Europhobes (many of whom probably travel little further than their keyboards) continue to try and infer.