With four decades of working on projects that have been European in nature, I can say that my enthusiasm for Europe is practical, pragmatic and realistic. No way am I looking at the European Union through rose tinted glasses. Being 12 years old in 1972 the fact that we joined the Common Market really didn’t register with me. I expect the adults around me were discussing what this would mean for farming but I was more interested in NASA’s Apollo space flights.
From the 1980s, I’ve had the pleasure of working on numerous major aerospace projects. From this vantage point I can see the great strength of collaborative working in Europe. It’s not an accident that European nations have come together to work together. It’s been a determined effort maintained over a long time with the agreement those involved.
There’s a mix of inter-governmental organisations and the European Union. Certainly Europe is complex. This aspect frightens some people but the reality is that complex arrangements work. The benefits of having a harmonised system of rules for aviation are enormous. There’s a reduction in costs. There’s a level playing field. There’s a common level of safety.
The idea that the UK should move forward for four decades and then step backwards into who knows where is beyond my comprehension. In June, nevertheless without a vote to stay in the EU so much will be thrown away needlessly. Let’s not let that happen.
John Vincent 