01/12/2008

UK 'Closer' To Euro-Zone Than Ever Before, Says EC President

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has said some UK politicians are prepared to sign-up to the euro in a bid to stave-off the effects of the international financial crisis.

Mr Barroso said the likelihood of the UK joining the euro-zone is now ‘closer’ than ever.

He told French radio station RTL: "We are now closer than ever before.

"I'm not going to break the confidentiality of certain conversations, but some British politicians have already told me, 'If we had the euro, we would have been better off'."

However, the EC President recognised that the majority of British people are opposed to the notion of entering into the single currency.

"I don't mean this will happen tomorrow, I know that the majority (of British people) are still opposed, but there is a period of consideration underway and the people which matter in Britain are currently thinking about it."

A Downing Street spokesman said: "We have no comment on this. Our position on the euro is the same - it has not changed."

(PR/KMcA)

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