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The European Union is at critical moment in its history, with Britain preparing to vote on whether to leave. In the second of a three-part series, the BBC\\u2019s former Europe Correspondent Allan Little tells the story of how a club that started with just six members opened its doors until the six became 28. We hear how the European Union helped countries to make the transition from dictatorship to democracy \\u2013 from Spain and Portugal in the South to Poland and Lithuania in the East. The sacred goal of the European Union\\u2019s founding fathers was \\u201cever closer union\\u201d, but as it has expanded to welcome countries with very different values and histories, is that goal still desirable or even possible?

Some of the interviews for this series were recorded ten years ago.

(Photo: Flags of the European Union member states stand inside the Council of the EU's Lex building. Credit: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)