During the first half of the 20th century Europe learnt the hard way that the 'old continent' has become too small for the Westphalian concept of absolute sovereignty (Photo: Images Money)

Why the EU is not an 'Empire'

EU Political

Opinion

by Jaap Hoeksma, Amsterdam,

History has it that, when an aide informed then-MEP Otto von Habsburg about an upcoming football match between Austria and Hungary, the relative of Emperor Franz Joseph asked against whom they would be playing?

Although the last emperors on the continent were disposed, killed or exiled after the Great War of 1914-1918, the concept of Empire continues to fascinate contemporary European intellectuals from both sides of the spectre.

Ardent Brexiteers in the UK depict the EU as the ...

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EU Political Opinion

Disclaimer

The views expressed in this opinion piece are the author’s, not those of EUobserver

Author Bio

Jaap Hoeksma is a philosopher of law, and the author of The European Union: a democratic Union of democratic States.

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During the first half of the 20th century Europe learnt the hard way that the 'old continent' has become too small for the Westphalian concept of absolute sovereignty (Photo: Images Money)