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ORIGIN OF NAME The term 'United States of Europe' (''États-Unis d’Europe'') was used several times by Victor Hugo , including during a speech at the International Peace Congress held in Paris in 1849 and later at the French National Assembly , on March 1 , 1871 . Trotsky raised the slogan "For a Soviet United States of Europe" as early as 1923 . It was also the title of a 1931 book by French Politician Edouard Herriot . INTERPRETATION OF EUROPEAN UNIFICATION The phrase "United States of Europe" usually identifies a Federation . Advocates of a federal system of government similar to that of the United States Of America where power is drawn from member states to a central governing authority. Historically, France has been a strong advocate of this form of government in order to maintain independence from the financial and military strengths of the USA and the now defunct USSR . The alternative viewpoint of European unification has been to push for a European Union as a financial trading Confederation in the form of a United Europe. This approach has been supported by both United Kingdom and United States . Winston Churchill The term "United States of Europe" was used by Winston Churchill in a famous speech which he delivered in 1946 at the University Of Zürich . This speech is frequently credited with beginning the process that led to the formation of the European Union . When Churchill made this speech he did ''not'' envision Britain in Europe. He believed that Britain's destiny would lie with the United States of America, the Empire and the Commonwealth . Guy Verhofstadt Following the negative referenda about the European Constitution in France and The Netherlands , the Belgian prime minister Guy Verhofstadt released in November 2005 his book ''Verenigde Staten van Europa'' (Dutch for ''United States of Europe'') in which he claims - based on the results of an Eurobarometer questionnaire - that the average European citizen wants more Europe. He thinks a federal Europe should be created between those states that wish to have a federal Europe (as a form of enhanced cooperation). In other words, a core federal Europe would exist within the current EU. He also states that these core states should federalize the following five policy areas: a European social-economic policy, technology cooperation, a common justice and security policy, a common diplomacy and a European army. [http://www.standaard.be/Artikel/Detail.aspx?artikelId=GVTL4S2C Franz Josef Strauß The focus of interest by Herbert W. Armstrong eventually became the career of German politician Franz Josef Strauß following the Der Spiegel Scandal . Strauß also became the author of a book titled ''The Grand Design'', in which Strauß set forth his views of the future of Europe. Armstrong originally portrayed Strauß as the future dictator who would lead the future United States of Europe. Strauß seemed to play along with this portrayal by becoming a guest of Armstrong in 1971 in his home and at his Ambassador College campus in Pasadena , California where he even agreed to appear on ''The World Tomorrow'' television programme. According to a document written by Armstrong in 1983 , he became lasting friends with Strauß, but he could not understand why Strauß had returned the friendship. GEOGRAPHY OF CREATION There is debate amongst those in favour of the creation of a European nation as to the geographic composition of such an entity. Frequently, commentators exclude Russia , a predominantly European country, from their ideals of inclusion. Indeed, whilst many in the EU are currently happy for the culturally European but geographically Asian country of Cyprus to be an EU member state, there is much debate about excluding Turkey , of which 3% of the area is in Europe, from the EU: Valéry Giscard d'Estaing has stated that the admission of Turkey to the EU would be "the end of Europe", interpreted to mean that he means that such an event would be the end of his ideals of a united Europe, rather than the end of Europe itself. PROPOSALS FOR CREATION The ''European Federation'' is a proposed Federal State model for the United States of Europe. The pivotal function of the Federation would be the preservation of the national characteristics of European nations, pooling the continent's collective resources without threatening any member's independence. It is envisioned as an alternative to an American -style government on the one extreme and a Swiss -style government on the other. It would make Foreign Affairs , defence, and the internal market the job of a European Federal government elected directly by the European population. Most Taxation and Social Security issues, healthcare, and most areas of justice and law enforcement, as well as other domains, would remain a prerogative of member governments. Certain legislation would, however, be a prerequisite for membership; for example, no state would be allowed to impose the Death Penalty as a form of punishment, and human rights as established by the Universal Declaration Of Human Rights would be guaranteed by the European Court Of Human Rights . The balance between state and federal issues would be maintained by the necessity of a unanimous vote in a Senate-style chamber with envoys from each member. UNITED STATES OF EUROPE IN FICTION '' Fatherland '', an Alternate History novel detailing a 1960s Europe dominated by a triumphant Nazi Germany . '' Incompetence '', a Dystopia n novel by Red Dwarf creator Rob Grant , is a Murder Mystery Political Thriller set in a federated Europe of the near-future, where stupidity is a constitutionally protected right. In Eric Flint 's Ring Of Fire Timeline Fictional Universe , a ''United States of Europe'' is formed out of the ''Confederation of Principalities of Europe'', which was composed of several German political units of the 1630s . Andrew Roberts 's book '' The Aachen Memorandum '' details a ''United States of Europe'' formed from a fraudulent referendum entitled the Aachen Referendum. In the expansionpack Euro Force for the computer game Battlefield 2, EU is portrayed as a single army. In the upcoming computer game Battlefield 2142 EU is portrayed as the 2nd Superpower left on earth. SEE ALSO
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