European states ‘must not turn to nationalism’

GOVERNMENTS must not turn to nationalism to protect their economies or Europe will repeat the same mistakes which drove it towards war in the 1930s, the vice-president of the European Commission has said.

Commissioner Guenter Verheugen said the success of the EU had been rooted in its ability to open up economies and promote competition. If countries built economic barriers it would create a similar climate to that which existed in the 1930s.

“Everybody knows the lessons of the 1930s and we must not repeat the mistakes made back then.