EU is a voluntary and democratic union

Cal Hyland favourably compares our pre-independence position with our membership of the EU (Letters, April 18).

In doing that he is overlooking the disadvantages of hundreds of years of colonial domination and the advantages of being members of a voluntary union of democratically governed countries.

The EU is not, as described by Mr Hyland, “another imperial power”. It is a voluntary union of nearly 30 democracies with a population of approximately 500m making decisions to share sovereignty in order to solve mutually conflicting problems. It is unique to have so many countries coming together to share sovereignty. In contrast, back in the Europe of 75 years ago decisions were made by two totalitarian dictators — Hitler and Stalin. We should expect a bit more historical perspective when discussing our membership of the EU.

A. Leavy

Shielmartin Drive

Sutton

Dublin 13