AHC: The European Union Britain's New Empire

Seeing as Britain seems to be seriously considering leaving the European Union, I was wondering how, with a POD of May 7, 1945, to make Britain at least the political center of the European Union and its most influence member to the point that the EU is occasionally called Britain's New Empire by political commentators.
 
Providing the right POD that shouldn't be impossible, but by 1945 your already hit with two big problems; France having it's shirt stuffed after the war and Britain already having it's guts tore out and thrown across the floor. By the end of WWII both France and Britain were propped up to be the European Powers, and France assumed the role of the continental master of the west. In reality France was in deep trouble for a long time (comparatively more so then post war Britain) to the point that, as I'm sure many people here know they even considered contacting the ASB's and forming a Union with the UK. Perhaps if France is treated as a conquered and liberated nation and Britain's position as her superior as an ally is made clear as day you might have a situation develop where the UK has the prestige and power to haul the EU in it's direction.

A few problems remain however; for one there's the empire that Britain is /still/ trying to preserve at least in some way (despite selling parts of her off, abet usually to friendly nations or dominions). Elements of Britain that would rather get rid of the empire I can't quite see being all to spun up on the idea of dominating European politics, and Frances position (both culturally and geographically) well put it as a natural leader (if not equal) in European Affairs; where as Britain has always had something of a disconnect from the continent.

Not sure about her abilities to do so, but she was defiantly the top European power for a long time following the war.
 
Cough...Germany...Cough :D

As long as Germany reunites after the end of the Cold War and applies its full economic muscle into wrestling the power in the EU from France/Britain you can't get the OP.
 
Cough...Germany...Cough :D

As long as Germany reunites after the end of the Cold War and applies its full economic muscle into wrestling the power in the EU from France/Britain you can't get the OP.
Not an insurmountable problem -- Thatcher was opposed to it and IIRC several other leaders were too. Just have the Iron Lady & co. stricke a deal with Gorbachov and say "Nuh-uh!" to German reunification.
 
Cough...Germany...Cough :D

As long as Germany reunites after the end of the Cold War and applies its full economic muscle into wrestling the power in the EU from France/Britain you can't get the OP.

Perhaps the Soviet Union gets all of Germany and it becomes an impoverished hellscape that needs to be propped up by Britain/France after 1990
 
Cough...Germany...Cough :D

As long as Germany reunites after the end of the Cold War and applies its full economic muscle into wrestling the power in the EU from France/Britain you can't get the OP.
Even before reunification, Germany was the economic and industrial powerhouse of Europe.
 
Not an insurmountable problem -- Thatcher was opposed to it and IIRC several other leaders were too. Just have the Iron Lady & co. stricke a deal with Gorbachov and say "Nuh-uh!" to German reunification.
Like OTL Kohl will cut a deal with Gorbi, otherwise the SU is broke and that is not going to happen.

Germany had more leverage in this process.
 
Like OTL Kohl will cut a deal with Gorbi, otherwise the SU is broke and that is not going to happen.

Germany had more leverage in this process.

Plus from what I've read, Thatcher was basically the only one who found it hardest to come to terms...even her cabinet was more OK...
 
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