The European election is only three weeks away yet the debate by UK politicians has not risen far above claims of being more distrustful of foreigners than other parties.
In mainland Europe the debate is on issues such as how the enlargement urged by some governments - especially the British Government - can be accomplished without an increase in the cost per nation state.
Another issue affecting everyone is how to achieve European Commission proposals on laws limiting chemical pollution. This pollution is causing a huge increase in childhood asthma, and has coincided with a 35 per cent increase in cases of cancer during a 20-year period.
The proposed EU regulations are being fiercely resisted by the national governments - including those of Germany, the UK and France - on behalf of their chemical industries, because they will make those industries less competitive than rivals in non-European countries.
It is the European Commission and Parliament not the national governments that are addressing the humanitarian concerns of ordinary people.
Maurice Vassie,
Cartmans Cottage,
Deighton, York.
Updated: 10:28 Friday, May 14, 2004
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