Hyperbole is a feature of discussion and discourse. I'm sorry it's given you an excuse to avoid the main point of my message, which is that the UK spent a good deal of time trying, as hard as possible, to join the EU, in what can only be assumed was the full knowledge, from the top politicians at least, that the EU's long-term aim was to become a political union rather than merely an economic one.
If it wasn't quite "begging", then it was, at times, as near as dammit. Andrew Marr covered some of the story, in his History of Modern Britain. As I don't have a copy of that to hand I can't dig up the precise quote. If it helps you to shut up about the begging bit, and focus on the substance, then I'll do my best to find it for you, but somehow I'm not sure you're really that interested.