Getting Europe out of trouble

Sir, - The article by Thomas Klau (Opinion, November 12th) was interesting, but flawed in one respect: it ignored human nature…

Sir, - The article by Thomas Klau (Opinion, November 12th) was interesting, but flawed in one respect: it ignored human nature.

European fiscal union is about as likely as the Big Bopper and Lady Gaga appearing at the Kinsale Arts Week next year.

European federalism was dead as soon as enlargement of the euro zone to 17 states made a super state inconceivable.

Current euro zone problems are not going away. Mrs Merkel knows how to solve the problem, but she does not know how to get re-elected if she delivers the solution; her election is not until 2013 so there are many more bumps along the road.

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In the meantime, our best course of action is to encourage closer co-operation and help shape an agreement that facilitates the introduction of the euro bond without any referendums and without relinquishing the power to determine our own tax rates which must always remain sacrosanct. - Yours, etc,

BRIAN BUSTEED,

Kinsale, Co Cork.

Sir, - You attribute the following comment to the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel: "Greece can no longer decide all by itself the issue of whether it should hold a referendum or not" (This Week They Said, November 12th). How dare she dictate to Greece, the cradle of democracy, or any other sovereign state, how they should conduct their internal affairs. If a referendum in Greece concerning membership of the euro zone or any other matter which has implications for the German economy, Germany has ample financial muscle with which to respond. To seek to subvert the democratic process of another country is moving beyond financial superiority to economic imperialism.

Of all European countries, Germany should know the cost of imperialism and should respect the sacrifices of almost every other European country in the cause of democracy. - Yours, etc,

RORY O'GRADY,

Corbawn Lane,

Shankill,

Co Dublin.