Debate about Brexit missed the point
ALL the debate about Brexit has missed the point.
The EU was not set up to facilitate trade, or to standardise regulations. It was established to bring the countries of Europe together in a partnership based on friendship and co-operation and prevent yet another war in Europe
The EU has brought peace to Europe. After WW1 there were only 21 years before we were at war again.
During that time Germany was “punished” by the demand for payments to compensate the “winners”. The main industrial heartland was occupied and industries dismantled. The economy of Germany collapsed and the ensuing inflation wiped out savings.
In despair people turned to the message of Hitler, who promised prosperity and political dominance in his vision of a thousand year rule. Actually within 12 years his forces had destroyed much of Europe and at least 25 million people had been killed, in gas chambers, and by bombs and rockets.
After the end of the war the countries of Europe came together. American Marshall Aid helped Britain and Germany to start rebuilding their economies.
Churchill called for a new vision of a Europe working together, Monet led the move to coordinate the coal and steel production and avoid the possibility of conflict. The EU grew out of this and has been a great success.
The countries of Europe have worked together and have drawn in previous fascist dictatorships in Spain, Portugal Italy and Greece and the countries that had been under the communist control of the USSR. It has been a huge success.
When the UK joined after the 1975 referendum we contributed to the establishment of the single market which has led the EU to become one of the three great economic powers on a par with China and the USA.
But the real measure of success has been that countries of Europe have joined in a partnership which has removed the causes of war and conflict, for the first time in over 1,000 years.