UNITED STATES OF EUROPE!!!

Ask yourself this: In the long term is the Pound a viable currency when caught between two trading huge blocks of the size of AMerica and a united Euro zone. (particulary given the likely expansion of said eurozone).

Britains position of relative wealth is due to competitiveness against the eurozone. In the long term this position will be eroded by those euro countries as the economics make them more economical.

I am Pro-Europe too Cassini.

But Britain has not been acting in the best interests of Europe.I would love us to join the Single currency but not if it is used to undermine further the European Union.

The Britsh Establishment is split but it is the Anti-Europeans that have the upperhand.

There is no point in having a European Union if it is weak and is used by the British just to rubber stamp US foreign policy.

The British public are now Anti-Europe generally because of our governments recent scapegoating and the Fanatical pro American Newspapers.A vote now would be lost.

Is Britain ready to take an active European role?I don't think so.We are duplicitous.

Very good points JB.

The points you highlight are all valid and if we threw ourselves fully into Europe at the wrong time it could have a very negative effect. Problem is, the longer we do not enter into it the harder it becomes, both politically, publicly and potentially economically (the economic factors are at this time within reach).

I am quite fully against a referendum, having worked in Banking all my working life I don�t believe the general public are equipped to make the right decision on this. God knows I would n`t trust some of the people I know, and they are generally intelligent people.

Its a shame really as I think Britain could be a very positive voice in the EU if used in the right way. Unfortunately the government we have at the moment, the one which should be pro-European is umming and arring over what to do. It makes me sick really as this should not even be an issue. Successive governments have fooled around on Europe and I think the time is fast approaching when a final decision must be made at a public and political level.

PS Nice to know you are Pro-European to. I sometimes feel that most people are Anti-European because of a general xenophobia than anything else

I think you would have to give a referendum even if it dosnt go the rite way because it is to huge not to let the public have a say. I mean if the goverment just sighned without giving the public a say things could get really nasty. Labour seem to of pissed off everyone at some point.

Even if they hold a referendum & the majority vote no they would get round to getting us in sooner or later.