|
|
Article: The prevailing roots of European integration: the European Union, which today has a myriad of faults, has gone through rough times and will go through more. And yet it still stands on its founding principles.(THE CZECH EU PRESIDENCY)
- Article from:
- The New Presence: The Prague Journal of Central European Affairs
- Article date:
- January 1, 2009
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2009 Martin Jan Stransky. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
European integration is a reaction to the two world wars, and it reflects the attempt to prevent further wars. In this sense, European integration is mainly a question about achieving peace in Europe. It distinguishes itself from the previous attempts to integrate Europe with one essential fact: the EU rests on the ability of the European nations and their political leaders to create a community founded on the elimination of war, mutual development, and freedom. All the previous attempts to unite Europe were based on denying freedom of choice, aggression, repression, killings, and jailing. It is therefore absurd to compare the European Union with the Soviet Union or with ...