Dear Editor,

With this letter we want to introduce you to our political organization, Democracia Nacional, a Spanish nationalist party, social and democratic. Basically, our ideas focus on the defense of Spain against the loss of identity caused by economic and cultural globalization, Maastricht Treaty, and the waves of inmigration that we suffer. This decalogue is a summary of our ideas.

Decalogue for a Spain with prospects:

1. The defence of the Spanish unity: constitutional reform of article 2 and its title VIII.

2. The defence of the Spanish sovereignty: propose for an European confederation as an alternative to the E.U.: the breaking off with the NATO: the dismantling of the American military bases in Spanish territory.

3. The defence of Spanish common cultural identity and those Spanish region with cultural identity of their own against Americanisation and globalisation of culture.

4. The effective persecution of political (creation of a special court) and monetary offences: keep tabs to the financing of the parties.

5. The breakdown of the monopoly of big parties in political life: the withdrawal of party obedience, close slates... Equal opportunities for every party the creation of alternative forms of political representation in order to complemented the one of the parties. Promotion of the usage of the popular legislative initiative and referendum.

Social economy

6. The creation of new jobs is guaranteed through an expansive policy.

7. Labour stability and the improvement of working conditions for the Spanish workers special labour conditions for women who want to exercise maternity; the reduction in the price of housing.

8. The defence of the benefits of the Welfare State, it will be possible because of economical growth and the breaking off with the E.U.

9. Damage to environment and the desertization of the Spanish territory must end. Hardening of the legislation.

10. Internal security has to be improved with the prosecution of criminal activities, terrorism, drug dealing and illegal immigration.

Recieved by e-mail on 5th December 2000.

OFFICIAL WEB: Democracia Nacional

POSTAL Address: Avenida General Peron 12 - 1º, 28020 Madrid ,Spain.

Dear Editor,

My party's attitude, its opposition to Britain joining the European Single Currency in the near future, is based on pragmatism and not ideology. We think that, at this point in time, the risks and disadvantages of joining the Euro by far outweigh the possible advantages.

The majority of the public agree: the most recent surveys suggest that around 75% of Britons oppose UK membership. It is usually thought that business in Britain is more favourable to scrapping the pound, but the truth is that most firms across the country have felt very little or no impact on their business since the Euro was launched in January 1999.

It is a small but vehement group of multi-nationals that favours British entry into the Eurozone, and their motive is profit, not the interests of Britain. Most businesses agree that the £36 bn it would cost to make the change could be better spent on other things, such as new technology to give the UK economy a head-start in the new e-commerce markets. Half of Britain's trade is done outside of Europe, this makes our economy different from most other European economies.

Whilst joining the Euro would end exchange rate volatility of the pound and the Deutschemark, for example, it would aggravate the volatility of the pound-Dollar exchange rate, which is equally important to us. As we have seen since its launch, the Euro has proved itself to be everything but a stable currency. I am reluctant to advocate joining an unstable currency that would tie us into Europe forever when I, and many people, believe that Britain's future is global, and not just pan-European.

Dear Editor,

It is certainly true that the Government would like the single currency to succeed. What will determine the UK joining or not is whether the economic benefits of doing so are clear and unambiguous. The Government's position on EMU has not changed since the Chancellor's statement in October 1997 - namely that 5 economic tests will be used to decide whether it will make economic sense to join.

It is not realistic to consider joining during this Parliament, as a period of stability and convergence are needed first. However, it is important that the UK firms prepare now to avoid being left behind should a decision to join be made by Government, via a referendum of the people. Even if the UK does not join EMU, a large number of British firms will be affected by the euro through trading links, either direct or indirect, with companies within the eurozone.

The DTI has been working with the HM Treasury to make businesses aware of both the risks and the opportunities offered by a single currency, and it is expected that companies' interest in the euro and the effect it may have on their activities will increase during the next twelve months.

Dear Editor,

To hold a referendum now would mean asking the British people to speculate on future economic conditions. The Government has set out 5 economic tests which define whether an economic case can be made for membership:

1. whether there is sustainable convergence between Britain and the economies of the single currency;
2. whether there is sufficient flexibility in UK labour and product markets to deal with economic change;
3. the effect if membership on investment;
4. the impact on our financial services industry;
5. whether the single currency would be good for employment.

These tests are challenging. Making a decision, during this parliament is not realistic. We need a period of stability and settled convergence before membership can be considered.

But preparations should be made in this Parliament so that, should the economic tests be met, a decision to join a successful single currency could be made early in the next Parliament. Without preparation, it would not be a practical option. The British people should be in a position to exercise genuine choice.

The potential benefits to Britain joining of a successful single currency are clear: in terms of trade, transparency of costs, and currency stability. EMU has eliminated exchange rate uncertainty on trade within the euro-area. Almost 50 per cent of our total trade is with the euro-area; the UK and the euro-area are each others; largest trade and investment partners.

In order to realise these benefits, we need to have demonstrated that we have achieved convergence which is settled and sustainable. Joining without having the necessary convergence would mean accepting a monetary policy which suited other Member States but not Britain.

A successful single currency will act as a complement to the Single Market, reducing transaction costs and exchange rate uncertainty on trade within the euro zone. It will make prices more transparent, boosting competition and providing new opportunities for trade and investment.

I am replying on behalf of Sir Teddy Taylor, M.P. as hon. secretary of the Cheaper Food League at which address you have written to him. Like Teddy, I am also on the national committee of the Campaign for an Independent Britain. In these counties, I have united all the pro-£ groupings under "The Sterling Alliance".

At the moment the polls suggest that just over half the British people want to leave the EU completely. Sir Teddy is a member of the Conservative Party which of course is in favour of staying in but not being ruled from Brussels.

One of the Tories who addressed my meeting at Banbury on Monday praised this attitude while arguing very strongly and methodically that we should leave - on the grounds that every other country that was still outside had increased their exports to EU countries by more than we have at around 4 per cent a year - the USA had achieved the same rate while not being a member.

He blamed our failure to enjoy the European Union market on the competitive disadvantages we suffer through tax etc. A software manufacturer with 97 per cent of his product being exported, chipped in and said it was a positive disadvantage having to pay VAT on our exports to Germany - he preferred to sell to Japan and the USA where his customers included Hewlett-Packard, Canon etcetera!

The battle is more over the Economic Union than even the Monetary Union! - they are inseparable though.

Taken from an e-mail dated 22nd January 2000

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