Britain and Europe in 10 Speeches

Britain and Europe in 10 speeches On the occasion of the official opening of the new Europe We would like Europe House to become an arena for a vibrant, House in London, this booklet offers a valuable overview informed discussion about Britain’s place in Europe and the of the history of the debate about the United Kingdom’s future evolution of the European Union. Our hope is that, relationship with the European Union, as seen through the in the spirit of the powerful contributions reproduced in this eyes of a number of leading British politicians. The speeches booklet, the new joint offices of the European Commission and lectures which follow will remind readers of the wide and European Parliament in London can help deepen the range of strongly-held views on Europe, often cutting across quality of the debate on one of the most important and lively traditional party lines, that have been expressed throughout issues in British politics. the period since the end of the Second World War. December 2010 Our own view is that Britain needs Europe - and Europe needs Britain. The European Parliament and European Commission will work to stress the mutual benefits that the country’s membership of the Union brings - whether in terms of free trade, access to the world’s biggest single market Jerzy Buzek José Manuel Barroso or a stronger voice on global issues, such as development or President of the President of the climate change. European Parliament European Commission 2 | Britain and Europe in 10 speeches 3 Winston Churchill On 19 September 1946, Winston Churchill, British Conservative leader, gave an address at the University of Zurich in which he identified Franco-German reconciliation and the establishment of a European organisation as conditions for peace and liberty throughout the continent. Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, “We must build a kind of United States of Europe. of Europe rise to the height of these I am honoured today by being received resolves of the soul and of the instincts in your ancient university and by the In this way only will hundreds of millions of toilers be of the spirit of man? If they can, the address which has been given to me on able to regain the simple joys and hopes which make wrongs and injuries which have been your behalf and which I greatly value. inflicted will have been washed away life worth living.” on all sides by the miseries which have I wish to speak to you today about the been endured. Is there any need for tragedy of Europe, this noble continent, in many lands, would as if by a miracle I believe that the larger synthesis will further floods of agony? Is the only comprised of the fairest and the most transform the whole scene and would only survive if it is founded upon lesson of history to be that mankind cultivated regions of the earth, enjoying in a few years make all Europe, or the coherent natural groupings. There is unteachable? Let there be justice, a temperate and equable climate, is the greater part of it, as free and as happy is already a natural grouping in the mercy and freedom. The peoples have home of all the great parent races of as Switzerland is today. What is this Western Hemisphere. We British only to will it and all will achieve their the Western world, it is the fountain of sovereign remedy? It is to recreate the have our own Commonwealth of heart’s desire. Christian faith and Christian ethics, it European fabric, or as much of it as we Nations. These do not weaken, on the is the origin of most of the culture, the can, and to provide it with a structure contrary they strengthen, the world I am now going to say something that arts, philosophy and science both of under which it can dwell in peace, in organisation. They are in fact its main will astonish you. The first step in the ancient and modern times. If Europe safety and in freedom. We must build a support. And why should there not be re-creation of the European family were once united in the sharing of its kind of United States of Europe. In this a European group which could give must be a partnership between France common inheritance there would be no way only will hundreds of millions of a sense of enlarged patriotism and and Germany. In this way only can limit to the happiness, to the prosperity toilers be able to regain the simple joys common citizenship to the distracted France recover the moral and cultural and the glory which its three or four and hopes which make life worth living. peoples of this turbulent and mighty leadership of Europe. There can be no hundred million people would enjoy. The process is simple. All that is needed continent? And why should it not revival of Europe without a spiritually Yet it is from Europe that has sprung is the resolve of hundreds of millions take its rightful place with other great great France and a spiritually great that series of frightful nationalistic of men and women to do right instead groupings and help to shape the onward Germany. The structure of the United quarrels, originated by the Teutonic of wrong and to gain as their reward destinies of man? In order that this States of Europe, if well and truly nations in their rise to power, which we blessing instead of cursing. should be accomplished there must built, will be such as to make the have seen in this 20th century and even be an act of faith in which millions of material strength of a single state less in our own lifetime wreck the peace and Much work, ladies and gentlemen, families speaking many languages must important. Small nations will count mar the prospects of all mankind. has been done upon this task by consciously take part. as much as large ones and gain their the exertions of the Pan-European honour by their contribution to the And what is the plight to which Union, which owes so much to Count We all know that the two World Wars common cause. The ancient states Europe has been reduced? Some of Coudenhove-Kalergi and which through which we have passed arose and principalities of Germany, freely the smaller states have indeed made commanded the services of the famous out of the vain passion of a newly united joined together for mutual convenience a good recovery, but over wide areas French patriot and statesman Aristide Germany to play the dominating part in a federal system, might take their a vast, quivering mass of tormented, Briand. There is also that immense body in the world. In this last struggle crimes individual places among the United hungry, careworn and bewildered of doctrine and procedure which was and massacres have been committed States of Europe. human beings, gape at the ruins of their brought into being amid high hopes after for which there is no parallel since the cities and their homes and scan the the First World War – I mean the League invasion of the Mongols in the 14th I shall not try to make a detailed dark horizons for the approach of some of Nations. The League of Nations century, and no equal at any time in programme for hundreds of millions new peril, tyranny or terror. Among did not fail because of its principles or human history. The guilty must be of people who want to be happy and “Indeed, but for the fact that the great republic across the Atlantic Ocean has at length realised that the ruin or the victors there is a Babel of voices, conceptions. It failed because these punished. Germany must be deprived free, prosperous and safe, who wish to among the vanquished the sullen silence principles were deserted by those states of the power to rearm and make another enjoy the four freedoms of which the enslavement of Europe would involve their own fate as well, and has stretched out hands of succour and guidance, of despair. That is all that Europeans, who had brought it into being, it failed aggressive war. But when all this has great President Roosevelt spoke and but for that, the Dark Ages would have returned in all their cruelty and squalor. Gentlemen, they may still return.” grouped in so many ancient states and because the governments of those days been done, as it will be done, as it is live in accordance with the principles nations, that is all that the Germanic feared to face the facts and act while being done, then there must be an end embodied in the Atlantic Charter. If the shield, and I will even say protection, of the United Nations Organisation. submit to tyranny. In all this urgent races have got by tearing each other time remained. This disaster must not to retribution. There must be what this is their wish, if this is the wish of of the atomic bomb. The atomic bomb Under and within that world concept work France and Germany must take to pieces and spreading havoc far and be repeated. There is, therefore, much Mr Gladstone many years ago called a Europeans in so many lands, they have is still only in the hands of a state and we must re-create the European family the lead together. Great Britain, the wide. Indeed, but for the fact that the knowledge and material with which “blessed act of oblivion”.

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