EUROPE IS MORE THAN A HOLIDAY DESTINATION.

When considering the EU too many people think that a shared currency is essential as a convenience for travelling from one country to another. Unfortunately, currencies are far more important than that, they tell us how individual nations are performing.

In the last three weeks we have spent time in both Copenhagen and Paris. Denmark retained it's own coinage, the Kroner. The cost of living there is exceptionally high; a system with which the population appears to be happy, although some go over to shop in Sweden for savings. France conversely seems happy with the Euro, probably because they do particularly well from the Common agricultural policy.

Both countries have distinct advantages over Britain, England in particular, much of both countries being empty, apart from the towns and cities. One gets the feeling that they are not concreting over the countryside with a view to accommodating the rest of the world.

During our sojourn in Copenhagen we spent one lunch time in a central square, enjoying the music played by three old boys; forming a delightful jazz trio, playing proper songs, the type that I play on my radio slot. A round of three drinks, two half litres and a small lager, however, came to over £20. Paris naturally is not cheap; the eating houses, of which there are many, are obviously competing against each other to prevent prices becoming outrageous. We enjoy French cuisine.

ALWAYS STICK WITH ONE'S OWN CURRENCY