Edward Heath

« Ladies and gentlemen, I am speaking to you today in order to honor Sir Winston Churchill for everything he did for us, for our country.

Unluckily this brave and strong-willed man is not among us anymore to celebrate the entrance of our United Kingdom into the European Economic Community.

It has now been over two months that Europe accepted our candidacy.

It has been a long and rough fight… which we won in the end.

Even if WE won the fight, it is well and truly thanks to Sir Winston Churchill, who led us with the least possible damages through the Second World War, that we are standing up as a united Europe, nowadays. I would now like to remind you that the United Kingdom has been a strong and powerful nation for over two centuries.

Since we joined our four countries to form the United Kingdom the 1 st May 1707, we had to stand together many times, and proved that for the best and for the worst, nothing could tear us apart.

The Napoleonic wars, the great exhibition in 1851, the 1 st and the 2 nd World War, nothing was strong enough to destroy what our ancestors built up with their very own hands and will.

This will of a Union was also shared by Winston Churchill.

Dealing with war since 1885, Churchill always had the dream of a peaceful world where forces, as well economic, political and military, could be joined.

Since the inter-war he was interested in the European project of Aristide Briand, and since the end of the Second World War he fought actively for one big Europe.

In 1948 he led the Hague congress, of what resulted the birth of the Council of Europe in 1949.

However, he is not sharing Jean Monnet’s point of view, and decides that the United Kingdom will not enter the Economical community for steel and coal.

Today, we can happily say that Europe is one, including the UK, whose candidacy was finally accepted at the third attempt.

In fact, thanks to that Union, the growth rate of the British economy will finally be able to show it’s true face.

Moreover, our country will be able to expand its imports and exports, in short, the United Kingdom will open its international market, which will boost our economy.

Finally, our archipelagos will have the guaranty of being sustained by the other European countries in case of a future crisis.

Praying that this future crisis will never come, I thank you Britons for having sacrificed your precious time to my humble words.

I wish you a good day, and sincerely hope that you share my thoughts, and are as willing as I am to give this European Union a chance.. »