Thread by @Helenreflects

Thread: A reminder for those saying that the UK signed up to a purely economic EEC, not to the EU as a project.
In 1957, the Treaty of Rome established the European Economic Community signed by 6 countries.
ec.europa.eu/archives/emu_h…

As the Daily Telegraphy reminds us, there was also another treaty signed that day, Euratom, to develop peaceful applications of atomic energy.
Seems the UK is leaving that too 2/
telegraph.co.uk/news/0/treaty-…

The UK wanted to join the EEC three times. First time in 1961. Second time in 1963. Then again, successfully in 1973. Three times. I still find that hard to grasp 3/

theguardian.com/politics/2016/…

As Kate Hadley put it, Britain at the time was "banging on Europe's door" theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

Did the UK just sign up to a purely economic project and was it then forced into a closer union it did not want? A look at the Treaty of Rome, which was at the basis of the EEC shows this was not the case. It begins thus: 4/

DETERMINED to lay the foundations of an ever-closer union among the peoples of Europe, 5/

RESOLVED to ensure the economic and social progress of their countries by common action to eliminate the barriers which divide Europe, 6/

AFFIRMING as the essential objective of their efforts the constant improvement of the living and working conditions of their peoples RECOGNISING that the removal of existing obstacles calls for concerted action to guarantee steady expansion, balanced trade and fair competition 7/

ANXIOUS to strengthen the unity of their economies and to ensure their harmonious development by reducing the differences existing between the various regions and the backwardness of the less favoured regions 8/

DESIRING to contribute, by means of a common commercial policy, to the progressive abolition of restrictions on international trade 9/

RESOLVED by thus pooling their resources to preserve and strengthen peace and liberty, and calling upon the other peoples of Europe who share their ideal to join in their efforts, 10/

Does this sound at all like a purely economic project? It does not. Yet the UK signed up to it. Why did they do so if they didn't believe in the project? Why did they do so and then tried their hardest to stop the 'ever closer union' envisaged in the Treaty 11/

Was the project of presenting and preserving peace and liberty, to promote balanced trade and fair competition, and to elevate less-favoured regions (e.g., Wales, let's forget) not something they wanted, or ever believed in? 12/

I have discussed with hard-line Leavers who concede that the UK knowingly signed up to an ever-closer union but was pressed to do it because they were economically disadvantaged, and then lied to their electorate 13/

Did this dream ever resonate with the British public? Is it maybe only now resonating with them? So many Remain voters I have spoken to tell me they did not realise what the EU meant for them 14/

It is the EU of this Wordle I made out of over 1000 responses in a hard Remain FB group. Peace, opportunity, freedom, friendship. I still believe in this project. Many others do too ends/