THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK.

The place: San Domenico Palace Hotel, Sicily; subject: a new European order. Ten years following the cessation of WWII, 1955, six continental European nations met at this former Dominican monastery, as a group of the six nations European Steel and Coal Community, they were: Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. Their intention being to create a trading block which would prevent differences that had hitherto led to war; two major conflicts having already taken place in the 20th. century, which brought the continent of Europe to its knees. What transpired was the signing of the Messina Declaration on the 3rd. of June that year.

Britain was conspicuous by its absence. Most of the politicians, across the spectrum, were not interested. For example, Tony Benn on the left and Enoch Powell from the right, were always opposed to what would eventually be the consequences of such a union. I'm sure that Benn responded to a question on why he agreed with the Powell position was because they were on the same side during WWII. Subsequently, unsurprisingly, following much lobbying by conservative leader, Ted Heath, we were granted entry; which was confirmed by referendum under the premiership of Harold Wilson (Labour) in the mid seventies.

We can now 'fast forward' to late 2013. Enter the British Tory MEP, Daniel Hannan. Hannan is one of those rare birds who reads the small print. Multi-lingual, with a wonderful intellect, and is the secretary-general of the Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists (AECR). This group convened at the same venue as the 1955 meeting referred to above. This time, however, it was to roll back the burgeoning effect that is stifling Europe as an economic power with any influence in the world. The AECR is proposing to return to what was drawn up originally, albeit with a secret agenda; purely as a trading group, abolishing all trading tariffs, a common market, simple.

The cross section of nations represented proved to be quite surprising. Luxembourg, for example, was complaining about the bullying it receives from both Germany and France. Poland, Bulgaria and Romania were also annoyed at losing the very people required to improve their own economies. The most surprising of all, however, was the argument put forward by Italian, Professor Antonio Martino, a former Italian Government Minister; whose understanding of the situation, and the current chaotic system, the centralisation inflicted on member states by Brussels, is not working, or ever will. Interestingly, the Professor's father was the host of the 1955 meeting.

Whether or not one is interested in this openly opposing view of the regime in Brussels, it is news, and should be reported as such. Such a notion, nevertheless, would not cross the minds of the BBC news desk, which operates the PRAVDA principle, 'only if we approve'.

BATTLE LINES ARE DRAWN.