Do the UK opt-out from the Euro and EU enlargement make Britain less Essay

Do the UK opt-out from the Euro and EU enlargement make Britain less attractive for foreign investors - Essay Example Most importantly, the single currency i.e. the Euro is managed by the European Central Bank and is so far adopted by 12 of the 25 member states (Wikipedia, 2006). Initially, the primary purpose of liaison between the European countries was to avoid catastrophes such as the world wars which started in Europe and engulfed the world with time. However, the economic benefits also have to be considered because the European Economic Council and then the European Union have emerged as the world’s single largest developed market with a total population that is over 450 million. It also has the highest GDP i.e. more than six trillion British pounds (Wikipedia, 2006). The EU is certainly not resting on its laurels and is in the process of expanding its member base (27 countries by 2007). This expansion process makes the group more attractive to foreign investors since membership of the group signifies common laws, the advantages of uniform policies in a single market, the relatively free movement of goods and services, unhindered movement of skilled labour with similar employment and social policy between countries. For the financial and industrial sectors, the EU brings free movement of capital, uniform industrial and intellectual property rights, a liberalized energy market and uniform consumer protection policies. As a final step towards the union, European countries are adopting the single currency, Euro. There are numerous benefits of joining the Eurozone as discussed by Huhne (2004), adopting the single currency provides a better deal for consumers owing to competition and would also help in pension income, especially when the risk would be spread around the wider euro maket. UK will be able to focus on real monetary and economic environment instead of using interest rates to maintain over valuation of Pound Sterling. Alignment of interest rates will also lead to