That the United Kingdom should not be all that enthusiastic regarding the strengthening of those bodies that bring together the countries of the euro zone, that's quite normal, given that it is excluded. And it is understandable that it is trying to highlight the competencies of the EcoFin Council, even on the single currency, as it forms part of it. What is less normal, is the way in which the efforts of the euro zone countries are presented in London (and those of the European Commission): public opinion on the other side of the Channel reads that the Continent wants to exclude Britain from closer cooperation in economic policies and other initiatives reserved for the countries of the single currency. Need one recall that it is exactly the opposite? The door of the euro zone remains open to the United Kingdom (as well as to Denmark and Sweden); it is they that refuse to push it. There is no "desire of exclusion" on the part of the countries of that zone, but a "desire for self-exclusion" on the other side (essentially on the part of public opinion, as governments and economic circles are in favour of the euro).
It's true that this way of reasoning has a precedent: when Ralf Dahrendorf was battling against the creation of the euro, he put forward as argument that the single currency "divided Europe", given that certain countries wanted none of it. Strange logic! Those dividing Europe are not those rejecting integration, but those trying to achieve it. Had we followed this reasoning, there would have been no EEC Treaty, as the United Kingdom rejected it in favour of a free-trade area (studied at the time by the Maudling Committee). At present, we must obviously hope that the strengthening of the Eurogroup is achieved (without waiting for the United Kingdom, which will join when it chooses) and that it is not impeded by power struggles between ministers and the European Commission. (F.R.)