At 19:37 02/02/2009, John Garside wrote: >Reconsidered?? > >You'll find that this writer and this newspaper >have a long history of opposition to the EU and advocacy for UK withdrawal. > >Both attitudes are ever more marginal.
In fact, one of the knock-on effects of the economic downturn is that the UK is more likely than ever to join the euro: "The global economic crisis has strengthened the case for the UK to join the euro, according to a pamphlet written by senior business people, econ-omists and commentators to mark the 10th anniversary of the single currency. In 10 Years of the Euro: new perspectives for Britain, Sir Peter Sutherland, right, the chairman of BP and a former European commissioner, warns: "The UK's current leadership in discussions of the international economic and financial architecture will prove ephem-eral if the country insists on remaining outside the most relevant part of the framework of co- ordination for its own economy." Hard economic realities also make the case for the single currency, the group adds. Professor Willem Buiter, a former member of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee, says the large size of the UK's banking sector in relation to GDP - 400 to 450 per cent - is another factor." http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20090116/ai_n31208143 Another effect is that Iceland may be forced to beg to join the EU. john g --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Persons posting messages to not_honyaku assume all responsibility for their messages. The list owner does not review messages prior to posting, and accepts no responsibility for the content of messages posted. -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
