Some positives to consider on Europe Day

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/08/positives-consider-europe-day

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On Friday we celebrate Europe Day, a day which 64 years ago marked the foundation of what is now the European Union. Not many people will notice. They also won't notice the safeguards they enjoy at work which are down to the efforts of the EU, nor the holiday and rest entitlements they get from being members of the group. Those in hospital may not notice the care they are getting from professionals who are able to work in the UK because of the free movement of individuals across the 28-nation organisation, nor appreciate how millions of Britons are able to settle in other parts of Europe and enjoy all the health and social security benefits of other citizens in those countries because of this rule.

They possibly won't see the benefits for the environment that come from our membership of the EU, nor the wealth that has accrued in our country because of our membership of the world's largest trading bloc. Just over half a century ago, our continent was torn by strife with hundreds of thousands of young British men losing their lives on the battlefields of Europe. In contrast today our continent is a beacon of hope for those around the world in terms of promoting peace and protecting human rights.

I would urge all your readers not to forget these things and to recognise the positive benefits membership of the European Union has delivered. Europe Day provides an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of Europe's citizens in creating the European Union, forged in part by the ideas of great British patriots such as Winston Churchill, and crucially to remember these benefits when they cast their vote in the European parliamentary elections on 22 May.Derek HammersleyChairman, European Movement in Scotland

• Martin Kettle berates the British people for the "insularity" of our attitude to the European elections (Comment, 8 May). Many people despise the European parliament as a democratic veneer on an anti-democratic structure. Kettle describes Christine Lagarde and Pascal Lamy as "heavyweight reformers" who might be suitable as president of the European commission. A few years ago Lamy represented the EU at the world trade negotiations, where his European selfishness prompted several governments, including the British, to repudiate his position and send their own representatives. Lagarde's policies at the IMF place her in the same camp as Lamy. If either becomes president it will confirm that the EU is the enemy of Africa, Asia and the Caribbean.John WilsonLondon