Brief comment on the Bruges speech of Margaret Thatcher
BRIEF COMMENT ON THE BRUGES SPEECH OF MARGARET THATCHER. Margaret Thatcher’s speech in Bruges, in 1988, was a statement of Britain’s position on the issue of European integration. The (then) Prime Minister began her speech by acknowledging that her views on Europe did not endear her to the wider European audience. ... However, in her address, Thatcher sought to affirm Britain’s place in the cultural indentity of Europe, testifying to the historical role Europe had in shaping modern Britain. In this way, Thatcher hoped to dispell claims of an isolationist Britain,which sought no role in the European Community. ... Thatcher calls it folly to try to fit the unique states into “some sort of identikit European personality”; as she is convinced that Europe will be stronger when there exists a France as France, Spain as Spain, Britain as Britain, each with its own customs, traditions and identity, and consequently, each with its own approach to new challenges. ... Mrs Thatcher also sought to include in her vision of a Europe based on a free market economy, those countries in Eastern Europe emerging from communist and socialist rule, who were not included in the European Community. Mrs Thatcher set out several ‘guiding principles’, which may be applied in pursuit of these goals. ... Secondly, Mrs Thatcher stated that Community policies must tackle present problems in a practical way, using the example of CAP induced food surpluses as an example.