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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 8114

16 December 2001
EUROPEAN COUNCIL MEETING IN LAEKEN 14 AND 15 DECEMBER 2001 / Laeken declaration on the future of the european union

I. EUROPE AT A CROSSROADS

For centuries, peoples and states have taken up arms and waged war to win control of the European continent. The debilitating effects of two bloody wars and the weakening of Europe's position in the world brought a growing realisation that only peace and concerted action could make the dream of a strong, unified Europe come true. In order to banish once and for all the demons of the past, a start was made with a coal and steel community. Other economic activities,...