G
Guest
Guest
Now that you have used the old Euros whilst sailing to Brittany and Normandy what do you reckon? Are we ready?
Chris_Stannard
New member
I note that prices were higher in France this year than last. It seems that the official rate of 6.7 francs to the euro translated to 5 francs to the euro in the shops. This also seems to be the Dutch and Greek experience where every one is saying how much the introduction of the euro has put prices of food up.
I also remeber the introduction of decimal coinage which gave us about 5% inflation..
The euro, no thanks!
Chris Stannard
I also remeber the introduction of decimal coinage which gave us about 5% inflation..
The euro, no thanks!
Chris Stannard
Cornishman
New member
Would you be happy to have the same rates of interest as those imposed on all the other members, including the queue of Eastern European countries waiting to join? Ask the Irish, who enjoyed the euro for a while but had no controls available when inflation started to gallop away. Ask the Germans who are in the opposite condition with unemployment soaring. I hear they have stashed away in secret vaults in Switzerland large quantities of D Marks ready for re-introduction if things get much worse.
Enjoy your sailing and leave the worries to Tony!!
Enjoy your sailing and leave the worries to Tony!!
corkonian1
New member
Tony as the new british napoleon, gordon his viceroy in England,
I sed ve vould RISE AGAIN, SIEG HEIL
I sed ve vould RISE AGAIN, SIEG HEIL
G
Guest
Guest
In addition I have remembered that when we were in a bar in St Malo a month or so ago the barmaid said that all prices had gone up by "about 30%" since the introduction of the Euro!
ccscott49
Active member
It's the same in Spain and Portugal, it will settle down, but I don't think it's a very stable currency, the Germans were telling the UK to keep the pound, as they now see the problems with central control, allowing the weaker economies to drag down the rest, no thanks!
Metabarca
Well-known member
Prices are up in Italy too, typically by 25% or so, although the gov claims not. On the other hand, we don't have to wrestle with those blasted thousands, millions and billions any more and the dreadful 1000 lire notes. They're quite happy accepting Euros in Croatia and Bosnia too!
G
Guest
Guest
Also it was reported that some countries do not accept Euros from other countries which rather defeats the object does it not?
ccscott49
Active member
But apart from the coins, they're all the same aren't they, it's the whole point!
oldgit
Well-known member
As regards price gougeing remember how much a pint of beer has gone up in the UK in the past few years. It appears that no one mentions, that even if prices were "adjusted" upwards, many items remain much cheaper within the Eurozone than in the UK and that includes everything from foodstuffs to white goods.As regards the interest rates causing problems any body care to remind me the of differing rates between Scotland,NI. and Wales and perhaps or maybe even the Peoples Republic of Cornwall.Perhaps some of the objections raised are more to avoid competition I have no problems with borrowing money at the sort of rates available for those within the Euro.
Our main source of trade is with Europe and that is were we need to look to strengthen our economy.
Sorry all you "Canutes" out there but sooner or later we will go in.
PS, And before anyone tells me that closer ties with the USA are the answer they are 2000 miles away and any nation that believes the world was created in 7 days six thousand years ago and bans books on Darwins theory of evolution makes me very nervous
lets go over there I am sure I saw a blue bit of sky
Our main source of trade is with Europe and that is were we need to look to strengthen our economy.
Sorry all you "Canutes" out there but sooner or later we will go in.
PS, And before anyone tells me that closer ties with the USA are the answer they are 2000 miles away and any nation that believes the world was created in 7 days six thousand years ago and bans books on Darwins theory of evolution makes me very nervous
lets go over there I am sure I saw a blue bit of sky
G
Guest
Guest
Yes, but it was the coins from another country that were not being accepted. Someone was trying to use Belgian ones in France I think.
Mr Cassandra
Well-known member
Hi
Have spent two months in Greece I think that prices have gone up 20% over all Beer last year were about 500-600drks Aprox £1 00 - £1-20 Now the daft buggers are asking 3-4 euro£1-80 £2-40 .In Poros where I keep the boat the taverner owners say that tourism is down 50% so they have to raise the prices to make up the loss .
Thats called Greek logic!! Cheers bob t
Bob T
Have spent two months in Greece I think that prices have gone up 20% over all Beer last year were about 500-600drks Aprox £1 00 - £1-20 Now the daft buggers are asking 3-4 euro£1-80 £2-40 .In Poros where I keep the boat the taverner owners say that tourism is down 50% so they have to raise the prices to make up the loss .
Thats called Greek logic!! Cheers bob t
Bob T
ccscott49
Active member
Ah! Now I understand, you didn't mention it was france, what else do you expect? They're still pissed off it wasn't called a franc, but I believe there was a french currency called the euro, I seem to remember it from some article or another, full of useless information, I am!!
tcm
...
Re: Francophile writes
I reckon I spend 3 months each year in france. But I don't see why it means I have to "be" french, or use the same laws, or drive on the left, or like weird crusty bread, or the same currency. It's more "inevitable" that the french must adopt English as their official language than it is "inevitable" that we adopt their currency. The "economies of scale" were going to be fantastic in that over 300 million all using the same currency. But they're speaking lots of different languages, with lots of different customs, so if you a brit buying an italian boat and registering it in france, er there are no "standards" and having the same currency isn't quite as useful as (say) all using the same electrical plugs.
Economically, if the euro was gonna do ace things, I undertood that (since thiv been the same currency for over 10 years now, with EMU) the effects would be there already, powering away by now and we'd be "left behind". But not a bit of it. They're still mired in higher and ever higher taxes now over 50%.
Good thing bout uk system is you can chuck the tosspots out, and it does make a difference. I would say that economies of scale can't be very much different between 350 million using the same currency and 55 million using the same currency. Switzerland and Japan seem fine with far fewer. Of course, if you're a tosspot nation, totally skint, then v good idea to join forces with a nice powerful economy. Otherwise, best to let the congenitallty lazy ruskies, poles and others do their thing.
I reckon I spend 3 months each year in france. But I don't see why it means I have to "be" french, or use the same laws, or drive on the left, or like weird crusty bread, or the same currency. It's more "inevitable" that the french must adopt English as their official language than it is "inevitable" that we adopt their currency. The "economies of scale" were going to be fantastic in that over 300 million all using the same currency. But they're speaking lots of different languages, with lots of different customs, so if you a brit buying an italian boat and registering it in france, er there are no "standards" and having the same currency isn't quite as useful as (say) all using the same electrical plugs.
Economically, if the euro was gonna do ace things, I undertood that (since thiv been the same currency for over 10 years now, with EMU) the effects would be there already, powering away by now and we'd be "left behind". But not a bit of it. They're still mired in higher and ever higher taxes now over 50%.
Good thing bout uk system is you can chuck the tosspots out, and it does make a difference. I would say that economies of scale can't be very much different between 350 million using the same currency and 55 million using the same currency. Switzerland and Japan seem fine with far fewer. Of course, if you're a tosspot nation, totally skint, then v good idea to join forces with a nice powerful economy. Otherwise, best to let the congenitallty lazy ruskies, poles and others do their thing.
AndrewB
Well-known member
Another Frogophile replies.
Living in Dover, we do our regular shopping in Calais about once a month or so throughout the year.
Our supermarket bills are still priced in francs alongside euros, and comparing them with those last year I see no greater difference than we've come to expect with normal annual inflation.
Where there have been big rises though is in the restaurants and tourist traps, particularly the ones that cater for British tourists. Some might think they are cashing in on the extra spending dosh Brits have with the strong £, but sagely 'le patron' blames it on the Euro. He knows he's on safe ground, since every Brit accepts as an article of faith, that anything going wrong can somehow be blamed on 'Europe'. Unless he's a Scot, of course, when it's all the fault of the English.
(Incidentally, my guess about the consequences of a common currency is exactly the opposite of yours - the countries with strong economies stand to gain at the expense of the weak. The weak ones can no longer devalue in relation to the strong in order to become more competitive and protect their own economy. And then, like north versus south England, or east versus west Germany, its unemployment and on yer bike mate if you want a job).
Living in Dover, we do our regular shopping in Calais about once a month or so throughout the year.
Our supermarket bills are still priced in francs alongside euros, and comparing them with those last year I see no greater difference than we've come to expect with normal annual inflation.
Where there have been big rises though is in the restaurants and tourist traps, particularly the ones that cater for British tourists. Some might think they are cashing in on the extra spending dosh Brits have with the strong £, but sagely 'le patron' blames it on the Euro. He knows he's on safe ground, since every Brit accepts as an article of faith, that anything going wrong can somehow be blamed on 'Europe'. Unless he's a Scot, of course, when it's all the fault of the English.
(Incidentally, my guess about the consequences of a common currency is exactly the opposite of yours - the countries with strong economies stand to gain at the expense of the weak. The weak ones can no longer devalue in relation to the strong in order to become more competitive and protect their own economy. And then, like north versus south England, or east versus west Germany, its unemployment and on yer bike mate if you want a job).
poter
Active member
Yeh but the USA is easy to get to before you fall off the edge of the world!
and they speak English.
The French Germans etc. can't even speak the same language so they must be igorant. Even my Budgie understands me....
poter
PS by the by the world was created in 6 days cause on Sunday He rested!
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by poter on 08/09/2002 16:12 (server time).</FONT></P>
and they speak English.
The French Germans etc. can't even speak the same language so they must be igorant. Even my Budgie understands me....
poter
PS by the by the world was created in 6 days cause on Sunday He rested!
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by poter on 08/09/2002 16:12 (server time).</FONT></P>
david_bagshaw
Well-known member
Re: Another Frogophile replies.
Totally agree with your first two paragraphs, same in the netherlands, where there are british tourists= large price rise, elsewhere 2-4 % max
David
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.euroboating.net>http://www.euroboating.net</A>
Totally agree with your first two paragraphs, same in the netherlands, where there are british tourists= large price rise, elsewhere 2-4 % max
David
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.euroboating.net>http://www.euroboating.net</A>
ponapay
New member
You miss the point re Euros
- its not their use for tourism that is supposed to be good but the stability of a larger economy. For tourists its never been a real problem having to convert - its just added some mystique to going foreign.
I personally doubt whether all the areas of the Euro zone will be able to pull together for long enough for it to be viable and feel it is bound to fail.
As to the five tests of the chancellor - it would be useful if he told us what they are and what criteria he is using to judge whether they are acceptable. Its typical of this government to say it won't go in unless the test are OK - but can fudge the answer to fit anyt tests it likes. We should all say NO.
- its not their use for tourism that is supposed to be good but the stability of a larger economy. For tourists its never been a real problem having to convert - its just added some mystique to going foreign.
I personally doubt whether all the areas of the Euro zone will be able to pull together for long enough for it to be viable and feel it is bound to fail.
As to the five tests of the chancellor - it would be useful if he told us what they are and what criteria he is using to judge whether they are acceptable. Its typical of this government to say it won't go in unless the test are OK - but can fudge the answer to fit anyt tests it likes. We should all say NO.
ccscott49
Active member
Re: You miss the point re Euros
Most of us have said NO, but what difference do you think that makes to this government of president Bluuuur!
Most of us have said NO, but what difference do you think that makes to this government of president Bluuuur!
kdf
New member
This happened for week or so after the introduction but it's all settled down now. I'm from ireland and travel a lot throughout Europe so for me the Euro is great. No more changing currency.
