countdown to the euro

[mrfish]

only a few more days now.

from a visitor's perspective i am glad to see the euro coming because at least you dont have to constantly switch currency traveling through small countries. the eu license plates make it easier to get through customs crossings too.

those are only trivial concerns though - i am interested in seeing if the european union and common currency brings any real changes for europeans.

[Dowding]

It won't work too well without the UK involved. Apparently we have the fourth largest economy in the world.

But in five years time, I expect Tony will have changed everyone's mind somehow and Britain will be in.

Although I'm personally for further integration, providing it occurs in a well planned way by a transparent political body. Right now, the way the EU commission is set-up is a shambles - it needs reform before any more changes are made.

[StSanta]

I can tell you why Scandinavians are supsicious of the Euro.

It's because they're suspicious of the EU.

And rightfully so - the latest step taken by France and Germany clearly indicate they want a super government where *they* have the majority of the power.

Having said that, if these things can be broken down, and the EU become efficient it'd be good. but what it needs is the same transparency as the Scandinavian governments have - otherwise there can be no trust, because EU has proven time and time again to do things the naughty way.

It'd be good for the Danish people financially if there was a superbody government - it'd not allow any more tax increases or in fact force Denmark to lower its taxes. And prices. And removal of the idiotic fees. just Saturday we got another fee - 100% fee on empty cd'rs. they've gone up from 4 crowns (50 cents) to a 8 (almost 1 dollar) over night.

Solve the transparency issue and Eu will have a bright future. Of course then the leaders will actually be held accountable, and I don't think that's realistic.

[Toad]

Forgive me, but.......

 

[Daff]

Dowding, IMO the UK are caught in a Catch-22.
They can't afford to leave the EU and they can't afford to stay..and I dont think staying with one foot in both camps is going to work in the long run.
If they left the UK, the farming industry would die overnight..export would be severly damaged from import/export restrictions that are certain to be placed from the EU and the UK companies can no longer expect to get contracts, just because they are the cheapest.
OTOH, the UK can't afford to intergrate at the same level as the rest of Europe.
With the lowest average salary, worst working conditions (hours/week, maternity leave, min. salary and annual leave), a social system far below the standards, I can't possibly see how the UK can afford that in the next 20 years...heck, even the 48 hour working week rule is virtually useless as it is, as companies just writes the contracts, stating that you are willing to work more than that. (And if you dont sign, no job).
 As for Denmark, (Although it's been 9 years since I lived there), it's resistance to the EU always struck me as some kind of misplaced nationalism, a fear of losing 'identity'..yet you can visit almost any town in the world and they will have their own identity...heck, we've had Christianity for over 1000 years and yet we still identify with the Norse mythology, moreso than being 'Christians'.
 I followed the last referendum and most of the people who voiced their opinion in various media, wasnt concerend about France or Germany, but about losing the word 'Kroner' on the money...but then again..in a article in Politiken (Danish newspaper) some months ago, a report stated that the top two nationalistic contries in the EU was the UK and Denmark.

Daff

[Nashwan]

cheapest.
OTOH, the UK can't afford to intergrate at the same level as the rest of Europe.
With the lowest average salary, worst working conditions (hours/week, maternity leave, min. salary and annual leave), a social system far below the standards,

Pardon?
I don't know if you are British (ie where you get your information) but don't believe the crap you hear in the papers and on the BBC. (Bolshevik Broadcasting Corporation)
The following table, from a US study into teacher pay rates, lists a mid experienced teacher at $31,500 a year, compared to $34,200 in the US, $28,400 in Austria, $18,000 in Italy, $24-28,000 in France, $32,600 in Germany, $23,700 in Netherlands, $26,00 in Spain.
All from 1994 figures, salaries adjusted for purchasing power. These are primary teachers.
Secondary school teachers in some countries rank higher, and in some countries overtake UK secondary school salaries, but averaged out the UK stil has a lead. And teachers like to complain they are undervalued and underpaid in Britain.

The Eurostat website gives the following figures for direct renumeration to employees in the Industrial and Service sectors.
Belgium 15.065 Euros an hour
France 13.75
Germany 16.93
Italy 11.41
Spain 11.29
Sweden 15.58
Ireland 11.95
Portugal 4.89
Netherlands 14.4
UK 14.43
Figures from 1999
The Uk isn't the top, but it's in the top range. http://europa.eu.int/comm/eurostat/Public/datashop/print-product/EN?catalogue=Eurostat&product=KS-NK-01-003-__-I-EN&mode=download
(I don't know if the URL will work)

[Daff]

The minium salary in the UK is around £7000/year..that's for 48 hour work week, with 4 weeks annual leave. Of that, you can probably expect to get around £5000-5500 after tax. but subtract an additional £500+ for council tax.
When I left Denmark 9 years ago (I've been living in the UK since), the minium salary was around £13.000 a year (roughly), for a 37 hour workweek and 5 weeks annual leave. (Stsanta can probably tell what it is now). Of that you will get around £8000 after tax and a standard of living at least twice as high. (If that can be measured).
 (All these numbers are done with a 10:1 DKR:£, which I know isnt 100% accurate but good enough for the example)
How those people survive in Southern England is a mystery to me.
 BTW, I looked at the URL and I can't see the numbers you refer to.

Daff

[Nashwan]

Daff, the minimum wage in the UK £4.2 an hour, which works out to £201 for a 48 hour week.
There are approx 12.5 Danish Kroner to the pound. The British minimum wage would work out around £10,000 a year, or 125,000 Danish Kroner
You also have your tax figures very wrong. The first £4,500 is exempt from tax for a single person. Above that, the first tax band is 20%, iirc. Altogether, someone on £7000 a year would pay less than £1000 in tax. There are also various tax and benifit schemes that guarantee a minimum income of £10,000 a year after tax to any family with 1 or more members in work.
Denmark BTW has the highest pay rates in Europe, so any comparison will find the UK behind Denmark. The UK is as I said amongst the top salaries band according to the EU's own statistics. Go to the URL I supplied, go to page 3, look at the hourly rates, multiply them by direct renumeration. (the hourly rates take into account the amount paid in taxes to the government as ell, in some countries this is over 25% of the total)

One other factor you are missing is VAT, or sales tax. Highest rate in the UK is 17.5%, with food, childrens clothing, books and magazines, and many other things rated at 0%. In Denmark the rate is 25% for everything.