> No, the EU started as a trade alliance and evolved into the bureaucratic behemoth it is today You're not disagreeing, just adding additional context. A quick

> No, the EU started as a trade alliance and evolved into the bureaucratic behemoth it is today You're not disagreeing, just adding additional context. A quick search established the following: > The European Community (EC) was created in 1957 as a way to foster trade cooperation and reduce tensions in the aftermath of World War II. So in effect, the trade alliance was started to avoid war; lessons were drawn from WWI tensions leading to WWII.