Abstract
Britain was one of the first countries to imagine a European grouping after the Second World War. In Zurich, on 19 September 1946, Churchill called for a 'United States of Europe', which would be based on cooperation between France and Germany. Yet he saw no place for Britain in this organization. .For him, Britain was not a regional but a world power just like the United States and the USSR. Later in May 1951, Churchill went further on this idea explaining that the U K was 'with Europe' but not 'of' Europe. Thus, in the process of the European construction, Britain has rather been an 'awkward' than a friendly 'partner.' Britain's reluctance towards the European construction can be explained by the orientation the continental European countries gave to this new organisation. Whereas Britain was for the idea of 'cooperation' which involves a total sovereignty for the member states, the European continental countries preferred the 'integration' system which involves a loss of sovereignty in fields which would depend of supranational institutions. A sovereign state can be said to be 'the one that holds and exercises supreme authority within its territorial jurisdiction.'
