Well, Erik I know what you mean, I am torn because I am apart of both...but your right. Alot of Brits do like Europe and Europeans, but its just this "little Englander" attitude, they just worry that they'll become less important if they joined europe "properly"...
Seem to be indeed. It's easily recognised that the influence of the UK in the European Union declined drastically upon the introduction of the monetary union (the euro) in which the UK did not participate. The influence of the UK nowadays cannot be compared to that of France, Germany, Spain or Italy, who are all part of the monetary union. It is since the foundation of that union that a gap opened up between "Euroland" on one side and the UK on the other (this also goes for Denmark and Sweden who didn't participate either, but it's needless to say that those two countries were never as big or important as the UK).
Public opinion in the Eurozone towards the UK has moved more and more towards indifference since the introduction of the euro and a sentiment of "we" and "them" started to grow.
Seem to be indeed. It's easily recognised that the influence of the UK in the European Union declined drastically upon the introduction of the monetary union (the euro) in which the UK did not participate. The influence of the UK nowadays cannot be compared to that of France, Germany, Spain or Italy, who are all part of the monetary union. It is since the foundation of that union that a gap opened up between "Euroland" on one side and the UK on the other (this also goes for Denmark and Sweden who didn't participate either, but it's needless to say that those two countries were never as big or important as the UK).
Public opinion in the Eurozone towards the UK has moved more and more towards indifference since the introduction of the euro and a sentiment of "we" and "them" started to grow.
I'm not expressing my opinion on the matter here, and of course I agree with the above.
But to say the UK isn't part of Europe any more is as ignorant as it is rediculous. Like it or not, the UK are and will be as important as the other big players, more important infact on a world stage. Public opinion is irrelevent.
When I said that the UK wasn't part of Europe, I was expressing public (and mine) opinion only. Of course it's not officially like that, that's impossible.