«We must build a kind of United States of Europe.»
«…but the dangers have not stopped. If we are to form the United States of Europe, […], we must begin now.»
«There is no reason why a regional organization of Europe should in any way conflict with the world organization of the United Nations.»
Winston Churchill’s historic speech in Zurich – and what Europe has become in the past 70 years
On 19 September 1946, Winston Churchill delivered a speech to the fully packed Aula at the University of Zurich. It was a speech which undoubtedly deserves to be called «historic». With the words «Let Europe arise!», Churchill appealed not only to the academic youth but also to the European nations to band together in order to avoid tragedies like World War II in the future.
70 years after his admonitory and visionary words in the Aula at the University of Zurich, Winston Churchill’s visit of Zurich shall be honoured. Therefore, the «Circle Zurich Friends of Winston Churchill» organises a series of events under the title «Churchill in Zurich».
On the one hand, «Churchill in Zurich» wants to honour Winston Churchill as the 20th century’s greatest statesman. On the other hand, politics, economics and the population at large, especially its youth, shall be encouraged to think about the following question: «Where is Switzerland heading? And where is Europe as a whole heading?»
