The Awkward Partner

“I am here in a country that hardly resembles the rest of Europe,” said the French philosopher Montesquieu in 1729. Europe, then known as the ‘old continent’, was an aggregate of great powers, which had no interest in any sort of unification. Nearly three centuries later, new nations have emerged and new industrial powers have developed. International relations are by far more complex and the concept of Europe as a Community, economical as well as political, …

…and then being vetoed by a reluctant De Gaulle. Once a member, Thatcher made Britain an ‘awkward’ partner through her tough policies and Major’s ‘opt-outs’ reinforce that singularity Britain always carries. Blair tends to be interested in the integration of Britain into the EU and even though Gordon Brown is uncertain about that option, Britain could well catch up with the two leaders and take a good start in the new 25-country European Union.