Should the EU give Britain an ultimatum?

[RB TexLa]

Convert to the Euro or lose membership and benefits of the internal market.

[elleng]

1. Not a good idea to foment/promote another fight/issue at the moment, imo.

[MedicalAdmin]

2. NO.

Britain has, in essence, given the EU an ultimatum. The results of not being part of the solution and having zero input, if it works, will be punishment enough.

[Spider Jerusalem]

3. Ha. No. They can't do it anyway, Britain has an opt-out on joining the single currency.

It's in a protocol of the Maastricht Treaty. As follows:

THE HIGH CONTRACTING PARTIES,

RECOGNIZING that the United Kingdom shall not be obliged or committed to move to the third stage of Economic and Monetary Union without a separate decision to do so by its government and Parliament

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Treaty_on_European_Union/Protocol_on_certain_provisions_relating_to_the_United_Kingdom_of_Great_Britain_and_Northern_Ireland

And Britain would say "fuck you very much" and leave; the UK is better off having its own currency and being able to take independent fiscal action.

[FarCenter]

4. No - and it is doubtful whether this would be possible either politically or legally

Most likely both the EU and the Eurozone will break up into multiple blocs.

[spanone]

5. the brits look like the smart ones in this deal

[MineralMan]

6. They could try. But it wouldn't work.

The UK would just shrug it off. Anti-EU sentiment is strong there.

[unblock]

7. given an ultimatum, britain would certainly choose defiance over capitulation.

then watch the eurozone crumble.


THEN they MIGHT ride to the rescue, in a much stronger position.

[friendly_iconoclast]

8. Not unless they are stupid, for reasons already posted.

[SixthSense]

9. Convert to the Euro just to watch it collapse?

Why would the UK take such a suggestion seriously? They are thanking their lucky stars right now they never bought into the Euro.

[Ikonoklast]

10. To the EU: "Britain doesn't Euro with you."

As shaky as the EU is, looks like Britain made the wise choice.

[MichaelMcGuire]

11. Its not in the UKs nor the EU interest to give ultimatums

My personal feelings is that 'if' there is going to be closer European integration. Its much better to be there when its being formed. Able to shape the form it takes than to be outside looking in. If the UK government does ridiculously decides to isolate its self from our European neighbours. I hope Scotland removes herself from the dead hand of Westminster as she would be far better representing herself as an constructive partner within these family of nations.

[On the Road]

12. What is the Advantage to the EU?

Would Britain's converting from the pound save the Euro? The UK declined to adopt the Euro when it joined the EU. It was worked out by both sides over a period of years. Seems like a strange time to insist on it. The UK is not going to jump in now monetarily, and splitting them out of the EU isn't going to help anyone either as far as I can see.

[DevonRex]

13. The EU has no enforcement power.

Not even on the ones who use the Euro.

[roamer65]

14. Britain will eventually just negotiate a free-trade agreement with the EU...

...and pull out of most of its other nonsense. Britain will be better off if they do.

Currency union before fiscal and political union was a very stupid move by the EU...one which the entire world will pay for dearly in the coming months.