Junker and dave

[grantone]

Bluebarge said:

That is not what will happen.

There may be closer integration but it will only be in the Eurozone and it is frankly necessary to make the Euro work properly. However, this is subject to the various European electorates agreeing to go along with this and recent election results in France, Greece etc suggest that this is certainly not a foregone conclusion.

What Juncker's appointment means is a likely acceleration to a 2-speed Europe.

Dave is not serious about an EU exit - he is posturing to keep the Ukippers and Europhobes in his own party happy - if he were to threaten exit he would lose the business vote overnight, along with much of the sensible end of his own party.

Your post made me do some more research about EU countries that are not Euro users.

I hadn't realised that the UK really is the odd one out, of the countries that have other currencies:

Lithuania is already in an Exchange Rate Mechanism and should move to Euro in 2015.

Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland could have entered ERM periods, but don't yet have target dates. They are 'compelled' to eventually use the Euro as a condition of their EU membership, but might end up like Sweden below.

Romania and Bulgaria haven't been in long enough to use the Euro, but as above, are 'compelled' to move to it eventually.

Denmark has a formal opt-out, but their currency is pegged to the Euro and they appear to be likely to have a successful referendum on cancelling that opt-out in the next few years.

Sweden does not have a formal opt-out as it joined the EU after currency opt-outs has been abolished and should be 'compelled' to move to the Euro, but the country rejected it at a referendum in 2003 which to date the EU has accepted.

So it could be reasonably likely that if we stayed in, in 10 years time we would be the only current EU country left not using the Euro and any new members would be compelled to use it.

[Walford]

grantone said:

Your post made me do some more research about EU countries that are not Euro users.

I hadn't realised that the UK really is the odd one out, of the countries that have other currencies:

Lithuania is already in an Exchange Rate Mechanism and should move to Euro in 2015.

Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland could have entered ERM periods, but don't yet have target dates. They are 'compelled' to eventually use the Euro as a condition of their EU membership, but might end up like Sweden below.

Romania and Bulgaria haven't been in long enough to use the Euro, but as above, are 'compelled' to move to it eventually.

Denmark has a formal opt-out, but their currency is pegged to the Euro and they appear to be likely to have a successful referendum on cancelling that opt-out in the next few years.

Sweden does not have a formal opt-out as it joined the EU after currency opt-outs has been abolished and should be 'compelled' to move to the Euro, but the country rejected it at a referendum in 2003 which to date the EU has accepted.

So it could be reasonably likely that if we stayed in, in 10 years time we would be the only current EU country left not using the Euro and any new members would be compelled to use it.

if we were still in, but europe will be euro land end of