Furthermore, I do quite resent the accusation that Brits are particularly Eurosceptic. The are several nations in Europe who haven't even bothered to engage with the European project - Norway, Switzerland, Iceland - and others who have thrown a spanner in the works just as many times as have the Brits (the Danes, for example).
Not all Brits are Eurosceptics of course. According to polls it still well over one third of the population, and on some issues over half. This is why the UK hasn't joined the Euro-zone, or the Schengen visa agreement yet (although Norway, Iceland and Switzerland have).
Let's not forget, it wasn't the British who wrecked Lisbon, was it?
That's true, but many experts think that they would have if given the chance. That's why the British government tried to avoid a referendum at all cost. There is a segment of the population (in any country) that is far too influenceable by the media and lack the ability to understand the issues at stake. That's the weak point of democracy (well, referendums at least). Even the French and Dutch, who are usually quite Europhile, used the European Constitution referendum as a way of expressing their discontent at the current government (and how could they not, Chirac was still president at the time
).
I'm not saying Britain is full of fervent Europhiles, but I do think it is unfair for people to continue singling us out as Eurosceptics - we are NOT especially Eurosceptic and actually have quite a long and proud tradition of being a leading player within "Europe".
It is undeniable that at the top, British politicians have had a lot to say in EU matters. But too many Britons are still against the euro 10 years after its introduction (7 years after the actual notes and coins were released) for shallow reasons such as "we like to see our Queen on the banknotes, it makes us feel British" (despite the fact that Canadians and Australians, among others, have have the Queens on their banknotes and are not British). I am especially appalled by the way British tabloids never miss an opportunity to bash any work made in Brussels.
I'm staunchly pro-European but I'm also a free-marketeer. I worry that by not making a good enough case for the benefits of the free market, the EU could suffer and eventually wither. Please do not mistake my well-meaning concern for malicious criticism.
The EU's attraction is not just the free market. This was the starting point with the EEC. We have come a long way since then. I especially praise the EU's way of regulating/banning dangerous chemicals in everyday products (something that many individual states wouldn't have done themselves), or to curb prices on cross-border mobile phone calls and sms (something that had to be done at the pan-European level to be effective), or scold countries which banking system is clearly abusive towards their customers (like France).
I wouldn't give that up, even if the free market had to be disabled (something I cannot envisage in today's increasingly globalised world).