Great Britain, a leading country in the world since the industrial revolution is likely to eliminate a major barrier between itself and the formation of a European state in the next several years. The introduction of a new currency, the Euro, and the loss of their own, the pound, could happen as early as the end of this year. To understand why Britain faces the possibility of changing currencies at the beginning of the twenty-first century and why this would be a mistake, you must first understand the history of the European Union.

The European Union is an Organization of European countries concerning trade, defense and politics that was created in 1993. However, its roots date back to the Western European Union, or the WEU, a Union that was formed in 1948 because of the Soviets. The WEU more specifically was an agreement to pool military resources. Great Britain was not among the six nations that signed this treaty. In 1957, a very important development occurred, the WEU created the EEC or the European Economic Community. Britain did not take part in the WEU however, or the EEC, and came up with an alternative forum for trade, the European Free Trade Agreement in 19

The Euro would be bad for Britain for several reasons. The first being it would bring Britain closer to the formation of a European state and the loss of sovereignty. It indeed is a crucial step because it creates an environment that is easily controlled by the European Union.

60. Britain soon realized it had taken up with only the smaller countries in the EFTA and applied for the EEC in 1961. They did not gain admittance into the EEC until 1973, when new French President George Pompidou did not bar their admittance, as his predecessor De Gaulle had done. Between 1961 and 1973 the EEC merged with the WEU to form the European Community. When Britain joined in 1973 they had to not only accepted the terms of the EEC but the WEU as well. Britain's reluctant involvement with the EC and its further development the EU has continued to reflect their desire for free trade, not a European state.

The Maastricht Treaty was signed in 1993. It formally created the European Union by doing several things. It provided for a central banking system, a common currency to replace the nation currencies, a legal definition of the EU, and a framework for expanding the EU's political role. This treaty was obviously intended to bring the nations of Europe closer together at a new and alarming rate. From 1993 onward the Union has increased its power and sought to draw the nations into inescapable unity. In 1999, the EU currency, the Euro, became available for international use but not until 2002 will it replace the old currency of participating nations. The currency change is the current cause of much controversy in Britain. Britain, which has always been a reluctant participant in the Union, is waking up to the decisions of its politicians in Brussels and has not yet accepted the Euro.

economy. It is the way of building a singly country. In the continental

However, the majority that retains Britain's favor with the pound is a small one. Many Britons believe that the Euro is right for Britain because they believe that the European Union is right for Britain. Most of those in favor of the Euro approve of the political correctness of the European Union and their decidedly left-wing policies. People that support the Euro are also generally against free trade because they believe leads to human-rights violations. The differing of opinions is a reflection of the conflict between people who support Britain' involvement in the European Union and those who do no

Some common words found in the essay are:
European Union, Britain Britain, Central Bank, Ford Nissan, Economic Community, European Countries, Europe Finally, Union Euro, Soviets WEU, Trade Agreement, european union, free trade, rest europe, currency euro, free market, single currency, change euro, easier conduct business, easier conduct, changing currencies, britain change euro, conduct business, european economic community, euro easier conduct, euro britain believe,
Approximate Word count = 1655
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)