Jean Monnet: The Man Who Helped Launch The EU

James Joyce once termed the EU the 'United States of Europe' whether he was being serious or merely playing with words, is another matter.

For centuries Europeans dreamed of uniting its peoples under one flag. It took two earth shattering World Wars to finally galvanize its leaders into action.

While Americans - busy containing the Soviet Union - were supportive but irreverent, Europe has quietly built itself into a powerful entity. Of course, just how much power is willing to be ceded by national governments to Brussels remains unsolved.

Jean Monnet was one of its early architects.