European integration and the Christian?

Tony Blair has given signals that he will be looking for Britain to adopt the euro in the next few years. No doubt there will be much debate among Christians about this. Here Tony Bennett expresses views against . . .

France and Germany began European integration by agreeing joint production of coal and steel in 1949, and developing that in 1951 by bringing Italy and the Benelux countries into the 'European Coal and Steel Federation'.

By 1957, this became the 'Common Market', later the 'European Economic Community', then 'European Community' and now 'European Union'. Germany's Foreign Minister, Joschka Fischer, recently likened this process to constructing the building of the new nation of Europe: 'We have the foundations and the walls; now for the roof.'