A Glossary of Eurosceptic Beliefs

A sustained demolition of much of the rationale underpinning Euroscepticism in this country was published on 12.7.00 by the European Commission in the UK.

A Glossary of Eurosceptic Beliefs - an exposé of misunderstanding takes many of the main Eurosceptic themes and contrasts them with the facts. It builds on two previous publications, 'Do You Believe All You Read In The Newspapers?' and 'Do You Still Believe All You Read In The Newspapers?', which successfully debunked some of the euromyths peddled by British newspapers in the past. It turns the spotlight from particular examples of inaccuracy to more general anti-European Union themes.

Geoffrey Martin, Head of the European Commission Representation in the UK, said 'The destructive impact of 25 years of distortion pervades every aspect of the British attitude to Europe. It has left many people with a mindset about Europe based on wilful misrepresentation of its purpose and how it works. These distortions have infected perceptions of the EU well beyond the sceptic press, as national - and indeed international - media fall into the trap of looking at Europe through a lens twisted by the sceptic vision'.

Mr Martin added: 'We hope the glossary will help to correct this negative contribution to the debate by laying out some of the essential facts. Under this constant bombardment, it is all too easy to understand why people begin to fall for some of these ideas. The glossary aims to confront this continuous misrepresentation.

After all, as none of the main political parties in Britain believes other than that Britain is in Europe to stay, it is important to know what is happening in Europe in real life'.