LETTERS
Sir,
I'm very disappointed by your January editorial on the euro. You mention "the long-evident inability of Europe's governments to act pragmatically or in concert".
First, and I don't mean to be offensive, it seems a bit odd to hear such a severe criticism coming from the UK, whose government has historically not been a very good example of "acting in concert" (except perhaps with the US), and indeed from the City, where it has long been fashionable to pose as "euro sceptical" and many have fervently hoped (for obvious reasons) that the euro project would fail.
One can only wonder whether certain criticisms and doubts currently expressed don't carry a sizeable amount of sour grapes.
Second, the successful making of the new currency is precisely an outstanding example of Europe's governments' ability to act pragmatically and in concert, setting aside their deep historical differences and working together to achieve a common goal which is beneficial for everyone, even for those who are not (yet) part of it.
How many times in history do you have the opportunity to watch a group of countries that have spent the last many centuries warring with one another decide to put an end to all that madness, give up some of the symbols of their "national pride" (if there is such a thing) and begin to work on what really matters.