(Former German Chancellor Helmut) Kohl: Europe still about war and peace

Kohl has warned against losing confidence in the benefits of a united Europe, saying “the bad ghosts of the past” were not gone and that the continent remained, “a question of war and peace.”

Writing in the Bild newspaper, Kohl, who is widely credited as one of the architects of united Germany and Europe's single currency the euro, said: “The current discussion in Europe and the crisis-like situation in Greece cannot now lead us to lose the aim of a united Europe from view, or even to question it and pull back.” He said the opposite was true. “We must use the crisis as a chance. We need – particularly now – more and not less Europe.”

He said the most important motivation of what he called Europe’s founding fathers – including in this Winston Churchill and Konrad Adenauer among others – was the desire to prevent further war. This remains valid, he said.

“Europe is our future. There is no alternative to Europe. We have every reason for optimism that we, that our Europe can also emerge from the current crisis stronger – if we want it. Let us not be led astray.”

http://www.thelocal.de/politics/20120228-41021.html

After almost 70 years of open borders and peace, it seems to most outside of Europe that it would never go back to the "bad ol' days" of ultra-nationalism and seemingly perpetual warfare. It is interesting that Kohl feels the need to promote "more and not less Europe" even today.

It is the right wing (particularly the far-right) that pushes nationalism in Europe today - much the same as in the 1930's - and "less Europe" while the left keeps pushing for "more Europe". Interesting times.