Europe will become world force (From News Shopper)

Europe will become world force

10:35am Thursday 8th January 2004 in

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THIS year will go down in the history books as one of the most significant in our continent's history.

On May 1 the European Union will expand to take in 10 new members, including eight former communist countries of central and eastern Europe.

How many of us who lived through the Cold War and its artificial division of Europe, or who watched open-mouthed as the Berlin Wall came down in 1989, could have believed Europe could be reunited so fast?

Yet within a matter of months, Europe will become not just the biggest trading bloc in the world but a global force to be reckoned with.

This may be news to some people. This is not surprising, as the British Government has done almost nothing to inform the public about these momentous developments.

Time and time again, whether Labour or the Conservatives were in charge, Britain has missed its opportunities to be right at the heart of European evolution.

It would be tragic if this were to happen again.

Last year showed how desperately the world needs a strong counterbalance to George Bush's United States not as an enemy but as a critical friend.

There could be a great future out there if the European countries work more closely together.

Not losing their national sovereignty but pooling some of it where appropriate.

I have really great hopes for this year but these will only be realised if the men and women in positions of power share some sort of progressive vision.

Jonathan Fryer
Liberal Democrat candidate for London
European Parliament