Re: There was never a need for a combined currency all over Europe
"We can also reduce the monetary problems by having integrated fiscal policy (ie, taxes raised in one area are shifted to pay for problems in another area). But the EU doesn't have that."
True, but there is a boat-load of money being pumped into the EU periphery via various funds. The Hilton Hotel in Belfast has a 'Part-funded by the EU... fund' plaque beside the front door (the Euro-crats need somewhere to stay, when they visit, after all*) as well as the trains**, some of the recent motorways, etc.). Along with infrastructure, there's also the Peace and Reconciliation funding for a lot of pretty soft projects and the EU Social fund that props up many charities and social services.
* Though I'm sure they'd all probably book into the Fitzwilliam instead because the Hilton was built beside a busy railway.
** built in Spain instead of Derby, probably so that the profits don't go to Canada
Biting the hand that feeds IT
