EU has been a major force in keeping the peace in Europe

I WRITE in regard to Gordon Lawrence’s letter (The Yorkshire Post, June 9) commenting on the respective responsibility of the EU and Nato for maintaining peace in Europe.

He suggested Denmark’s decision to “cancel its opt-out on Brussels defence policy” is “light- hearted” compared with Sweden and Finland applying to join Nato.

Denmark is already a member of Nato. Sweden and Finland are both members of the EU. What is his point?

Mr Lawrence claims that the EU (and its earlier forms) is not a major force for maintaining peace in Europe for the last 70odd years. This is quite simply wrong.

Europe was the most violent continent in the world for hundreds of years, with constant wars.

This culminated in France and Germany going to war with each other twice in the 20th century, with catastrophic consequences for the rest of the world.

What the EU did was bring together France and Germany, along with other traditional enemies, to work together in mutual understanding for their mutual benefit.

This was recognised in 2012 when the EU was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, with the Nobel Committee observing: “Today war between Germany and France is unthinkable.”

His last point claims many EU member states are against the formation of an EU army because it reduces their sovereignty, which is not true.

The EU gave up any attempt of a united defence policy, including an EU army, in 2002 when the UK made it clear we would veto any attempt to introduce this.

The road is now open and the EU will press on with closer member co-operation over defence and an army.

If Donald Trump stands for the US presidency in 2024 and is elected, he may well make good his threat to withdraw the US from Nato.

Then an EU army would be essential for the balance of power in Europe.

From: Thomas W Jefferson, Batty Lane, Howden, Goole.

PETER Packham asks what Brexit supporters would miss most if we rejoined the EU (The Yorkshire Post, June 8).

That’s easy. The ability to govern ourselves in our own parliament. But I would put the question the other way round.

Why do Rejoiners wish to rejoin the EU with the obligation of joining the Eurozone with its proven track record of low growth, high unemployment and debt?