ELECTIONS to the European Parliament take place here on June 4 – a few days from the 65th anniversary of D-Day, the start of freeing Europe from the Nazis.

Survivors from the Second World War have the common thought that it must not happen again. The need was, and is, to understand the situation that led to extremism where disputes between countries are settled through conflict.

People such as Winston Churchill, Jean-Claude Monet and Maurice Schuman set out to create organisations that would ensure that such conflicts would never happen again.

The coal and steel agreement (the Treaty of Paris) was the start of what is now the European Union. European recovery was assisted through Marshall Aid from the US.

The development was always going to take time as sectional interests placed obstacles in the way of progress. As benefits became apparent, objections were overcome. It is sound policy to look at the small print before signing up to developments. That is what our politicians do.

There is, however, a constant need to dispel the abundant myths about the EU from people who would have us regress from an organisation that continues to bring not only peaceful co-operation within it, but with our neighbours.

Bill Morehead, Darlington