> That mandate of the EU is, and always was, to prevent WW3. That's an interesting generational difference-of-view. Growing up in the Cold War, to us it was N

> That mandate of the EU is, and always was, to prevent WW3. That's an interesting generational difference-of-view. Growing up in the Cold War, to us it was NATO that kept the peace both within the western hemisphere and within Europe. Barring a couple of tantrums it even kept Turkey and Greece from going to war! Best of all it didn't require much sacrifice of sovereignity other than perhaps bases for US forces and land for the pan-European fuel pipelines, plus keeping defence spending above the agreed thresholds. The EEC was barely mentioned in terms of international relations and we only studied it in school in the context of trade and agricultural policy. But those who grew-up in the post-Maastricht Treaty period seem to have a wholly different view of what the EU is and wants to be, and a very much poorer view of NATO. And I think that is reflected by the results of the UK referendum; to many of the Cold War generation the EU is an usurper, a bloated amorphous creature of indistinct purpose that evolved without their consent and seems to insert its tentacles into every aspect of their lives. Why does it exist, why is it needed and why can't it just focus on intra-European trade like it used to? Until those questions are answered there will always be people sceptical of the EU.