Both sides in the euro debate are not only entrenched but wrong.

Those in favour claim to be visionaries while those against say we should get out of Europe to avoid being taken over by the Germans. The answer, of course, lies somewhere in between.

I am pro-Europe. I have lived and worked in Germany for six years and understand and speak German. My business as an international publisher in Brighton has taken me to Germany and Holland (both EU), Switzerland (non-EU) and the US, Japan and Korea (certainly non-EU).

All my business has been billed in US dollars - even in Germany and Switzerland. The dollar is still the main world currency.

A supposed benefit of further European integration is to be able to travel across borders without changing money. But when I travel from France to Switzerland or from Japan to Korea, I will still have to change money.

Another is to be able to plan your business better without having to suffer the vagaries of currency exchange rates. But you still will not be able to forecast either the dollar versus the euro or the won or yen versus the dollar or Swiss franc. We are in a global market, not a European market.

Working West Germans are tired of paying increasing taxes to meet massive deficits created by integrating the old East Germany.

One often hears the remark "build the wall again". With attitudes like that, what chance the Germans accepting paying higher taxes for, say, the Portuguese to have a higher standard of living?

Integration to the Germans means higher taxes. With the slimming down of industry

in Britain, we are relatively competitive globally. But it will take years for the Germans to catch up. Does anyone honestly think the same economic decisions from a Central Bank in Frankfurt will be right for Germany and Britain, let alone Italy or Portugal?

So, while the German economy needs, say, lifting by decreasing interest rates, Britain will suffer the same decision whether it's right for us or not.

Without a fully-elected democratic European parliament, I don't want to know about any further integration. The gravy-trainers want it but real people in Europe don't.

We, the people, want free trade, freedom of movement and a gradual integration of our differing cultures and languages, not just of Europe but of the world.

We must stop being little Europeans and become truly globally international, in our own way and at our own pace. It will take time - maybe another generation or two.

Meanwhile, if there is anyone who says we should give up our hard-earned democracy by joining the EMU and go back to the bad old days of dictatorial kings, kaisers or other unelected leaders, you're wrong.

-Derek J Halling, Bishopstone Drive, Brighton