There is a common thread in these votes, even if when we get into the details we find several differences. That is that there are strong forces across Europe pushing highly disruptive, anti-establishment messages and ideas.
Like Tadeusz Rejtan, who desperately tried to halt the partition and disintegration of his country 1773, we must block the door of the room that is the European idea even as others begin to make their discreet or not so discreet exit. If we do not, then Europe’s slide will be unstoppable, and our great civilisation will pass to history.
Europe has long been a discussion over a Europe of states and Europe of citizens. However the Europe we have today is neither. As Europeans, we will have to make a choice between the two before the forces unleashed by this Europe overwhelms us all.
Here I provide an essay I recently had to write regarding the reasons why the European Union is so much further integrated that other free-trade areas. In it can also be found nuggets of my beliefs as to why the Union should exist at all.
In Search of Europa 