Eurocratic nonsense

13 February 2006

I think Andrew Lee’s leader is taking rather a too rosy view of the relationship between the UK’s technology sector and overseas partners, especially in Europe (Comment, January 30).

The European Union receives huge amounts of taxpayers’ cash from all its member states, not least the UK. A large quantity of this money is then diverted into various research projects according to priorities decided by the EU.

Some of this may or may not end up funding work here, but even if this is the case it will always be on Europe’s terms.

I cannot agree, for example, that Galileo is a virtuous project. It seems to be driven purely by a desire to be equal to the Americans in owning a satellite tracking system.

Are the research priorities set by Europe equivalent to those that would be set by an equivalent body deciding what is in the national interest of an individual economy?

I doubt it, and believe we are generally best off making decisions about what to do with our money here in the UK.

Paul Robinson
Swindon
Wilts