Europe is better with the EU than without

 If the EU did not exist, it’s highly likely that the countries and continent of Europe would now be in a far worse situation.

Back to the USSR?

 

After the EU referendum, many of us were suspicious about the role of Russia in clinching the narrow ‘win’ for Brexit.

The rise and fall of the Berlin wall

It was 58 years ago – on 17 August 1961 – that the Communist East German government completed the construction of the Berlin Wall.

Back to the USSR?

There is now mounting evidence that the Russians are using techniques to destabilise the European Union, and possibly attempted to influence a win for ‘Leave’ in last year’s referendum.

EU is not the USSR

Some Eurosceptics revel in re-naming the EU the EUSSR. I strongly object to this comparison.

There is absolutely no resemblance between the EU and the USSR. Such comparisons are reckless, childish and nonsensical. 

It shows no understanding or respect for those people who truly suffered and were horribly murdered in their millions under both the Communist and Nazi regimes. 

Latvia between Unions (Soviet and European)

The rooftops of Riga, capital city of Latvia
© Photo:  Tēvijas Sargs/The Latvian Institute

In the summer of 1999, I visited the Baltic State of Latvia in north-east Europe. It was eight years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, which Latvia was forced to join in the 1940′s. And it was five years before Latvia chose to join the European Union. 

My visit was a snapshot of a country between Unions – Soviet and European. The personal account of my journey to Latvia in 1999 appears below.  On my blog at EU-ROPE.COM, I've written the story of Latvia's 60-year journey from one Union to another: 'Latvia: From Soviet Union to European Union'