Paul Belien - 2009 01 17

Belgium was founded exactly 175 years ago, in 1830. The cover of A Throne in Brussels, the book I wrote for its anniversary, depicts the map of the European Union in the Belgian colours. This is no coincidence. As Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt recently said: “Belgium is the laboratory of European unification. Foreign politicians watch our country with particular interest because it can teach them something about the feasibility of the European project.”

Two peoples live within the Belgian state: Dutch-speaking Flemings and French-speaking Walloons. In 1830 the country was part of the Dutch-speaking Netherlands. The Belgian revolution was the work of French-speaking rebels who wanted to have it annexed to France. The international powers stepped in and, by way of compromise, decided to make Belgium an independent kingdom with at its helm a German prince, Leopold of Saxe-Coburg, who was a member of the British royal family.

Full story

Colonel Barry Turner hosts a discussion about the European Union with guests including: Brian Gerrish (retired naval officer), Donald Martin (Publisher), Robert Theobald (Campaign for an Independent Britain).

CzechNews - 29.10.2008

Prague - In two speeches marking the 90th anniversary of the foundation of independent Czechoslovakia on 28 October 1918, Václav Klaus repeatedly called for patriotism and warned against what he sees as a dissolution of the nation state in the EU.

In his first speech on Tuesday at a massive military parade, the first that Prague witnessed since 1985, the president remembered the bravery of Czechoslovak legionnaires who fought on the side of the Allies in World War I.

(more…)