Brexit: Just take look at the history of Europe
THE path to Peace and Prosperity. A short history of Europe
After the first world war there was a peace conference in Versailles. The French minister of commerce and industry, Étienne Clémentel proposed “a new economic order” based on European co-operation.
America opposed it and Britain failed to support it. It was rejected. Jean Monnet, a young assistant to Étienne Clémentel recognised the potential of that vision and saw the consequences of its rejection; during the next 20 years, the harsh injustices and short sightedness of the Versailles Treaty led to the rise of fascism in Germany, Spain, Portugal and Italy, and the rise of communism in Russia.
Europe was then subjected to its worst ever period of mass slaughter, genocide and destruction.
During the war Jean Monnet played an important role in coordinated allied efforts to defeat fascism, and was determined to ensure that Europe could become peaceful and prosperous..
After the war, when tensions between France and Germany rose over the control of the then vital coal and steel industries, Monnet and his associates conceived the idea of a European Coal and Steel Community.
On 9 May 1950, with the agreement of Chancellor Konrad Adenauer of West Germany, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs Robert Schuman made a declaration in the name of the French government. This declaration, prepared by Monnet for Schuman, proposed integration of the French and German coal and steel industries under joint control, a so-called High Authority, open to the other countries of Europe.
So the potential resumption of hostilities between France and Germany was prevented by this move towards cooperation.
Jean Monnet continued to lead the move to a new economic order based on economic cooperation, and is commemorated as the man of vision who led Europe away from its tradition of mutual hostility.
Europe became peaceful, economically successful, and a beacon of democracy and justice in a troubled world.
So much so that the fascist dictatorships of Southern Europe, and the communist dictatorships of Eastern Europe collapsed as their people sought for and gained admission to the EU.
The economic success of the European Union was largely due to the initiative of Margaret Thatcher who was the driving force behind the creation of the single market. Transforming the European Community into a great free trade area devoid of internal barriers went hand-inhand with her domestic policy of liberalization and deregulation.
The EU is now the second largest economy in the world, and the UK is the second largest economy in the EU.
The EU will continue to progress and benefit from the drive for peace which was Jean Monnet’s great contribution and the drive for prosperity through the creation of the single market which was Margaret Thatcher’s great contribution.
It is a pity about Brexit.
David Walker