EEC Quotes
This English headline about a seemingly temporary weather condition in the English Channel has become an iconic quotation by all who are discussing a united Europe and English attitudes towards Europe and the European continent. Before there was a tunnel between England and the continent a heavy fog interrupted all traffic—sea and air. However the British, who represent a small part of the total population in Europe and the European continent, viewed the temporary problem as unfortunate, not for England, but for the Continent. The implication was that Britain would get along fine without the continent and the rest of Europe, but the continent was in a state of stress if they could not communicate with and travel to England. It is an imperious attitude which aggravates the remainder of the European community, is not supported by Economic reality but is nonetheless perceived and felt by British of all classes.
This was an incredibly prescient and visionary statement regarding the EEC. It would be years after his death that his vision was finally turned into reality.
Great Britain however did join the European Common Market although it did not give up its own currency and adopt the Euro as most of the other European nations did.
Little heed was paid either to the principle of disarmament or to a United Europe. It took two World Wars and a Cold War to create a United Europe.
The Premier was opposing Turkish admission to the EEC common market.
Poland and most other European Governments and their people were very fearful of a strong Germany with WWII always present in their memories. However, at this time the Conservative German government had very passive policies with respect to the European Community and some German leadership and activism was thought necessary by many leaders of Europe. Germany was one of the strongest economies in Europe and without the WWII legacy of aggression would normally be expected to be more of a European leader.
Henry of Navarre. The Great Council was the first proposed International governing body—a precursor to the EEC, the UN and the League of Nations. Henry's plan included an international army and navy to enforce the decisions. There were 15 nations proposed in the Great Design. Each one had a veto presaging the United Nations Security Council.
The proposal had many of the characteristics of the EEC adopted years later.
Referring to the European Economic Community:
There is a counter argument in Europe where no single nation can take any initiative for economic reform without being affected by the other countries of the EEC and the economy of the whole. Therefore reform should be made at the EEC level. However, most EEC nations have strong constituencies that do not want Europe to make or drive reforms but want domestic issues to be left to each country alone.
Many Americans were paranoid about Democratic Socialism being a stalking horse or front organization for Communists. Similarly, many Socialists were paranoid that the American and European (and other) capitalists were out to destroy them in their conflation of socialism and communism.
Europe was still suffering from the economic effects of the Great Recession.
Between corruption and mismanagement Greece's politicians had reduced the economy of Greece the one close to a third world nation but it had a population that was used to a living standard of a modern, developed, nation. The politicians had lied in order to meet the requirements of the Euro zone and the other countries had to spend billions to prevent the complete collapse of the Greek economy with its unpredictable consequences for the other nations.
