Mercantilism was not political it was economical. The whole of Europe followed its methods. Not nice, more force than the art of the possible. Political life and its problems were still viewed largely from a religious point of view during this period. The only people who were screwed from 1972 in the UK, and 1951 on the continent were ordinary people. It has always been a political project. I'm sure I heard, I think it was Diane James, say that, trough a freedom of information request, that Heath deliberately withheld this information from the nation in 1972. He, of course, was up to his neck in it, just like Mrs Baylock (May) Worldwide free trade is much more acceptable to me than European protectionism, which we pay a lot for in order for the EU to expand.
I think the biggest differences between the UK and many of the EU countries is that a defendant is considered guilty until proved innocent rather than innocent until proved guilty. This is why I will never feel European. So thanks for that Napoleon
If you bone up on Richard Von Coudenhove Kalergi you'll see where the idea of a united Europe came from.