Brexit or not, Britain’s fate has always been linked to Europe

AT the end of World War II, Europe had a choice to move toward unity or live with more chaos.

The European Parliament in session in Strasbourg in 1972.

AFTER two hugely destructive wars in the first half of the 20th century, Europe began some soul searching. Either it become united or face continued chaos. Out of the ashes of conflict rose a vision to bring Europe’s nations together which would later become the European Union.

The Brits go to the polls this week to decide whether they still want to be a part of the EU community. Despite many complaining it is wasteful and erodes British sovereignty, Britain’s destiny has long been tied to Europe.

The name Europe may come from an ancient Phoenician word meaning sunset, because the sun set in the lands to the west of Phoenicia (Lebanon). It may also come from Europa, daughter of a Phoenician king, abducted by the god Zeus, who had taken the form of a bull. Ending up in Crete, she gave birth to three sons, including King Minos of Crete.

Europa’s name became associated with eastern parts of what is today Europe, but eventually the Romans applied it more broadly to parts of the known world that were not Asia. Rome unified a large portion of Europe, including Britain, and despite some political fragmentation after Rome’s collapse, a sense of shared destiny emerged. Sometimes it was under loose confederations like the Holy Roman Empire, but often it was in response to attempts by one nation to dominate the continent. In the 18th century Irish philosopher Edmund Burke proposed a “Commonwealth of Europe” to counter the French Revolution. His vision seemed to be realised in the spirit of co-operation that emerged after Napoleon’s defeat in 1815 when the Congress of Vienna was dubbed the “Concert of Europe”.

From 1815 to 1914, the Concert mostly prevented large scale warfare. But things broke down in the early 20th century when Germany asserted its dominance in World War I and II. After the second destructive war, people looked to ideas, such as Burke’s, for a community of European states.

History. French Prime Minister Robert Schuman reads his resignation at a press call Sept 3, 1948.

One supporter was British statesman Winston Churchill. In 1930 he saw Britain as part of that union, albeit separate. He said: “We see nothing but good and hope in a richer, freer, more contented European commonality. But we have our own dream and our own task. We are with Europe, but not of it. We are linked but not compromised. We are interested and associated but not absorbed.”

In 1946 the former British PM gave a speech in Zurich urging the formation of a “United States of Europe”, primarily in response to the growing threat of Russia. Discussions at The Hague in 1948 led to the creation of a Council of Europe in 1949.

One of those who proposed the council was French PM Robert Schuman, who knew first-hand of the tensions across European borders. Born in Luxembourg in 1886, his father was born French but became German when Lorraine in northeastern France was annexed by Germany in 1871.

Educated in Luxembourg and Germany, Schuman set up a law practice in the formerly French town of Metz. He avoided service in the German army in WWI on health grounds and was appointed an administrator in Boulay, a district under German rule, traditionally part of France. After Germany’s defeat, Schuman became a French administrator and politician.

In World War II he voted in favour of Philippe Petain running France under the Nazis, but refused to serve in Petain’s government. Instead Schuman was almost sent to Dachau for resisting German rule. He escaped and worked for the French Resistance, but after the war was denied a seat in parliament because he had voted for Petain.

With help from Charles de Gaulle, Schuman re-entered parliament, becoming finance minister then Prime Minister. In 1950 he was behind the plan to combine Europe’s coal and steel industries. In 1951 the Treaty of Paris created the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

The ECSC inspired greater co-operation leading to the creation in 1957 of the European Economic Community (EEC), known as the Common Market, and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). Britain was denied membership to the EEC in 1965, the same year agreement was reached to merge the ECSC, EEC and Euratom, which took place in 1967.

Britain finally joined the Common Market in 1973 and a 1975 referendum saw 66 per cent of British vote “yes” to remaining there. They were an integral part of the community by the time it officially became the European Union in 1993. Now the British may leave, despite still living in the neighbourhood.

Originally published as Brexit or not, Britain’s fate has always been linked to Europe