Introduction

Aims of EuroPolls

Introduction

The European debate is highly important. Every aspect of the European Union (EU), created by the Maastricht Treaty in 1992, affects our lives: such as our jobs, our law-making and our economy; as well as the quality of the products bought on our streets. That doesn't matter whether you are French, Dutch, British, German, Spanish, or whether you belong to another member state of the EU.

The Treaty on European Union, otherwise known as the Maastricht Treaty - signed by John Major's government, has set a timetable for economic and political union. Currently electronic commercial transactions can be made in euros, the single currency, which was launched on 1st January 1999. In 2002 the first euro coins and notes will be in circulation within the "eurozone." The eurozone is formed by France, Germany, Holland, Spain, Italy, Belgium, the Republic of Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal, Austria and Finland.

This healthy discussion about the future shape of Europe has occurred since World War II. It still remains relevant to us all. Sir Winston Churchill spoke of a "United States of Europe." Mrs. Thatcher, following the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe, in her 1988 Bruges speech spoke of a looser Europe of co-operating independent nation states. Yet the current President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi believes that monetary union and political union are synonymous. But does that vision entail the creation of a pan-European federal state, with control centralised on Brussels? EuroPolls discusses this issue.

British Prime Minster Tony Blair, the most pro-European PM since Edward Heath signed the Treaty of Accession in 1972 to what was then the European Economic Community (EEC), thinks that Britain must lead the way in Europe. Yet alike his predecessors, he has found that task more difficult than he'd perhaps thought. William Hague on the other hand declares that Britain should be "In Europe, but not run by Europe!" The question for Britain is where do her best interests lie, and how can they be best served? How should Britain work with her European partners, or should Britain go it alone? It is therefore also a debate about the best model for the European Union. Some see it as a quest to preserve Europe's peace and prosperity.

These same questions are being asked by other member states of the Europe Union, particularly by those outside the eurozone. Denmark will be voting on the single currency in September. Jens-Peter Bonde MEP thinks there will be a big party, even in London, to celebrate a 'no' vote. Anders Panum Jensen of the Danish European Movement wholeheartedly disagrees. Either way it will be worth looking out for the result, and even how it works out for the Danish people, parliament, economy and Europe.

Aims of EuroPolls

EuroPolls aims to take an impartial look at these issues, and to provide an integrated resource to encourage further discussion about European issues. There are a number of disparate Web sites from pro and anti-EMU organisations. EuroPolls aims to bring them together to enhance the quality of the debate. It features video footage from the European Foundation's Millennium debate at the end of last year, and audio footage from the 17-19 participants involved in the initial project. Now there's much more besides.

Readers are encouraged to send in their comments. Balanced and informative articles about Britain's relationship with Europe, particularly on EMU, are welcome. There is room for further development of this site. Besides the single currency there are hundreds of issues that are of equal merit. The vision of EuroPolls is to provide a centralised forum for debate, by bringing the different opposing organisations together from across Europe. However, this particular debate's focus is on Economic and Monetary Union.

Not every aspect of EMU can be covered here in depth. There's a mass of further reading to be done for even non-enthusiasts. To help you EuroPolls has linked to other forums, and news sites. By the time a referendum is called by Tony Blair, I hope that EuroPolls will have helped you to decide for or against EMU. As part of this aim EuroPolls invites both sides of the debate to form a European Web-ring. That will build a consolidated resource for the public on EMU: one site uniting the many.

N.B. EuroPolls' off-line version also forms part of the assessment for my MA in On-line Journalism at The Nottingham Trent University. The design and the journalism in the site's EMU Forum, as well as the Index, will be marked as part of this process.

Graham Jarvis, 9th June 2000