Name the day: The business case for joining the euro

sharman essay 18/10/02 4:44 PM Page 1

Name the day: the business case for joining the euro Colin Sharman

Tony Blair’s presentation to the House of Commons of a national changeover plan for the adoption of the euro, last February, will come to be seen as a defining moment in Britain’s path towards economic and monetary union (EMU). It moved the debate forward and put EMU firmly at the forefront of national economic strategy. Government funds have now been earmarked for the conversion of public sector computer systems and processes. A possible scenario is for a referendum to be held in the second half of 2001, following a general election in May of that year. That could mean the UK entering EMU