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An Article in March's North Norfolk Chronicle

HOW NORFOLK WILL BENEFIT FROM THE EURO

by Andrew Duff M.E.P.

Since the introduction of the euro notes and coins at the start of the year, many people have begun to take the prospect of the single currency more seriously. It is right to weigh carefully the pros and cons. The Liberal Democrats support sterlingÕs membership of the single currency, but have always argued that the public must debate the matter Ñ and then decide it in a referendum. We want that vote as soon as possible because continuing uncertainty is bad for both the pound and the euro.

Since January I have spoken to several Norfolk businessmen who share the sense of impatience. I have chaired a Norwich meeting of Britain in Europe, the cross-party campaign group that will fight the referendum campaign. I have discussed how North Norfolk, the Broads and Yarmouth are set to benefit from European Union funding with regional and local authorities. I have met students and staff at Aylsham High School. The message from all these people is clear: if the euro works for our European friends and partners, it can work for us too. If the euro is quickly becoming part of the European identity, we want a share in that identity too.

I agree. Britain needs to be in there, at the centre, helping to fashion the social, economic and industrial policies that will maximise EuropeÕs new competitive advantage. The euro will help to build Britain for the long term. Frankly, we cannot aspire to mainland standards of public services if we donÕt increase investment to EU levels. If we stick with sterling we are not putting in place the stable framework that long-term investors need.

The nub of the argument for the euro goes like this:

• 60% of our trade is with Europe, and business will be able to trade more efficiently.
• Britain canÕt go is alone: we need to be part of a big trading area.
• The world is coming together: we have to be big to survive.
• Our long term prosperity depends on being able to trade on equal terms. We do need to think about the future
• Prices and mortgages will come down, so weÕll all be better off.
• ItÕll be easy to compare prices if we all use the euro, and the competition will force price cuts.
• Prices are already lower on the mainland (they donÕt come here to shop!)

The Lib Dems do not argue that there is no risk to going in, only that the risks are much greater if we stay out. We will not exaggerate the argument for going in Ñ but we wonÕt shirk it either.

Andrew Duff is the Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament for the East of England and President of the Norfolk branch of the European Movement.

He can be contacted via www.andrewduffmep.org or at Orwell House, Cowley Road, Cambridge CB4 0PP.

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Andrew's work
in the European Parliament since 1999

Andrew is Vice-President of the European Parliament delegation to the Constitutional Convention on the Future of Europe.

Rights for EU citizens

Andrew drafted the Charter of Fundamental Rights which has strengthened the rights of all the citizens of the European Union.

Turkey

Andrew is working for improved links between the EU and Turkey, to encourage improvements in Turkey's human rights record and to enhance its democracy.

Andrew's campaigning in the East of England

Airport Expansion

Andrew has led calls for the Air Travel industry to be subjected to the same rigorous environmental criteria as other modes of transport