Labour & Trade Union Movement Debate on

THE EURO

Friday 22 September 2000

7.30pm

Council Chamber of Harlow Town Hall

Motion for Debate

"It is in the interests of British Trade Unionists for Britain to join the single currency once the criteria for entry has been met."

Proposer:- Bill Rammell - MP for Harlow.

Seconder:- to be confirmed.

Opposer:- Will Podmore - Written pamphlets on Europe and writes articles for Tribune.

Second Opposer:- Helle Hagenau - Trade Unionists against Single Currency

In the chair:- Brian Bostock (Secretary of Harlow TUC)

Form of debate will be as follows.

Proposer and Opposer given 15 minutes to put their case (Seconds given 7 minutes). Two speakers will be taken from the floor calling for abstention (5 minutes each). The debate will then be open to the floor. Speakers from the floor will be given 3 minutes. At the end, Opposer and Proposer will each be given 7 minutes to sum up their case. An indicative vote will then be taken as follows

For

Against

Abstention

Undecided

Note:- This is a debate for the Labour and Trade Union movement and not a public meeting. The aim of the motion is to allow discussion on the issues involved and not on the niceties of the wording. It is sufficiently general enough to allow this to happen. Therefore no amendments will be taken.

Note:- Gordon Brown's 5 economic tests for joining the Euro are (according to Labour Euro News October 1998)

"1. Are business cycles and economic structures compatible so that we could live comfortably with Euro interest rates on a permanent basis?

2. If problems emerge is there sufficient flexibility to deal with them?

3. Would joining the monetary union create better conditions for firms making long-term decisions to invest in Britain?

4. What impact would entry have on Britain's financial services industry, especially the city?

5. Will joining the Euro promote higher growth, stability and a lasting increase in jobs? This is the fundamental test."