behind the european integration that has almost been forgotten. that purpose was peace. the european concept or the concept of an integrated europe came after the second world war from statesmen who had endured two world wars in europe. they were people who thought the only solution from 2000 years of internet seen warfare in europe, plus these two unbelievable massacres of millions of people, was in some way to integrate europe, to diffuse the nationalism. that is what the european project was about. i do not think it will become unstuck totally, and it is certainly in trouble. it is worth remembering it is one of the great noble endeavors, and that is one of the few instances of collective improvement at work in the world today. everything else seems to be deteriorating, coming us under. europe is still trying to increase its ties. there are still countries trying to get in. there are 27 members of the european union. seventeen members of the euro zone. it was founded on th