Cyprus-Forum.com

[miltiades]

With out question the EURO is the most stable currency in Europe , and the most practical unit of exchange . With over twenty European nations adopting the EURO , yet the British people are steadfastly against dropping the pound in favour of the most successful and durable currency in the world.
I find it odd that "SOVEREIGNTY " scores rather high as a reason for keeping the pound , as we have any sovereignty left to lose !!
The UK Banks are ripping people off with Euro rates spreads of more than 10 % , making so much out of currency exchange that almost all British institutions dealing in some form of money business are actively promoting their involvement in money exchange .
Any comments , and please no SOVERIGNTY CRY STORIES !!!!

[Oracle]

..... you still want to live in the Victorian era

[juliesewell]

Miltiades

Both me and my other half agree, the sooner the UK change to the Euro - the better. Better than being robbed everytime when exchanging currency whilst travelling and finally being able to measure the true cost of same items in every EU country. For those buying property in Cyprus would certainly feel the benefit, I'm sure.

Unfortunately, not many will agree with us - there does seem to be some insistance on keeping this currency for some reason. The Greeks gave up their currency which has been around for hundreds of years and it doesn't seem to have done them too much harm.

Maybe as the Euro is more widely used, UK residents may start to think in a similar manner and realise by taking the same currency will be the only way to decide how prices compare in other destinations.

We just went on a visit to Malta for a few days from Cyprus as we pop over to visit my parents during their holidays from UK and this was the first time we could totally evaluate the cost of living compared to ours in Cyprus.

Usually, we felt the cost of living in Malta was somewhat cheaper - particularly to eat and drink in bars & restaurants. But, it seems they have not fared too well with their exchange rate or they put their prices up before entering the Euro in January. We found that many of the prices were more expensive than Cyprus.

From a "Brit" now resident in Cyprus.

[BC Numismatics]

Miltiades,the Pound Sterling is a currency that is held in very high esteem,as is the Bank of England.I've always liked the name 'Pound' as a currency name,because you can refer to it as the Quid,& people will still know what you mean.

It would be a real shame if the U.K. ever did away with the Pound,as it is the Pound that is very much part of the British national identity.The time to put the 'Great' back into 'Great Britain' is long overdue.The U.K. should do the right thing & secede from the E.U.,& focus on rebuilding & strengthening its relationship with the rest of the proper British Commonwealth.

Aidan.

[Get Real!]

When the UK joined the EEC it was just an “economic community” with financial prosperity in mind but today the organization has evolved into the European Union which aims to streamline every aspect of member’s internal affairs and lately including that of national & continental defense.

The EU is Europe’s answer to the US’ ever increasing strength and world dominance and that’s where the problem starts for the UK who cannot get along with major EU players, and former arch enemies like France and Germany, so she still considers the US to be her primary ally and thus reluctant to fully commit herself to the real underlying European cause.

The currency issue is just one of the many UK tactics aimed to delay and destabilize this ever-increasing global force destined to take over the reigns from the US.

[miltiades]

Well said GR !! You do surprise me !!!

[Get Real!]

Well said GR !! You do surprise me !!!

[BC Numismatics]

Get Real!,that sounds like a head-banger!

Aidan.

[miltiades]

Get Real!,that sounds like a head-banger!

Aidan.

He cant beleive that I have complimented him , for once !!!

[bill cobbett]

I don't think the Brits are obsessed with sterling. I do however feel Brits are divided on this Euro business. Some, as has been posted above highlight the obvious benefits to travelling to our European partners and the rip-off transfer charges. The other view and one which I share is that and I am no economist, ultimately a currency's monetary value in relation to other currencies is determined by a number of factors, principally interest rates and government debt ( as proportion of national gdp ) and I wouldn't want to be burdened with a common currency shared with others whose per capita debt exceeds that of GB by a long way.

I would also say that currencies fluctuate. There are times when exchange rates benefit and times when the opposite is true. The bad times are cancelled out by the good. Many GB based members with assets in Cy will have benefited, on paper if not elsewhere, from the recent strength of the Euro.

As to GB's foreign policy to which GR refers. That policy for hundreds of years has been to ally itself with or to form larger alliances with one or more of the major players in Europe so that it is part of the most powerful alliance. In the past that may have been the Germanic states against the power of Napoleonic France, or as circumstances and threats changed, with France and Russia against Germany ( on two occasions ). Since the war, circumstances changed again of course and GB allied with the most powerful player in Europe, which wasn't a European power was and is the USA via the NATO alliance. In the future, who knows it may be Europe itself.

( Sorry about this but I am being followed around by a mouse holding a banner. Can't figure out how to get rid of it from my sig. So no offence intended to northern brothers and sisters but if anyone from the army of the RoT is reading this please do take offence. )