After WWII, Churchill realised the need for a united Europe
Re: “Confused about Brexit? It couldn’t be simpler…”, Have Your Say, May 2.
In the last few years there have been many erroneous statements made about the EU. One was repeated on these pages that the EU began as a free trade zone. After the destruction in Europe of World War II there were calls to establish institutions that would create peace and strengthen democracy. One such call was made by Winston Churchill in 1946 in a speech at Zurich University. He wished for a United States of Europe.
The EU started as the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), which was an organisation of six European countries created after World War II to regulate their industrial production under a centralised authority. The treaty of Rome 1957 set up the European Economic Community. The EEC was established as an organisation to bring about economic integration among its members. It was much more than a free trade zone. Western Europe became a place that enjoyed stability and prosperity. It went on of course to expand and become the EU.
Today that stability has become threatened. The problems now facing southern Europe are not beyond resolution but a return to the extremism of the first part of the last century is not the answer.
Ian Martin
Bangkok
