HL Deb 10 November 2004 vol 666 c80WA
Lord Stoddart of Swindon

asked Her Majesty's Government:

To which countries and which historical period the Prime Minister was referring when he spoke of the 25 countries of the European Union as "Europe reunited after centuries of conflict" during his speech to the annual conference of the Labour Party in 2004. [HL4721]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

My right honourable friend the Prime Minister's speech referred to the many conflicts that have divided Europe's nations throughout previous decades and centuries. For example, in the 20th century alone, two world wars, which saw many of the 25 member states pitted against each other, were followed by the divisions of the Cold War, which were brought to a final conclusion with the accession of the EU of eight former eastern bloc countries in May.