The British Government's proposal to develop the ECU gradually into a "hard" European currency has begun to be viewed in a more positive light. What principles are at the heart of this proposal? Does a "hard" ECU have advantages over the existing ECU? What are its chances as a parallel currency?

Compared with the issues of economic and monetary policy the EEC Treaty says little about a common cyclical policy, and no great advances have been made towards such a policy since the Treaty of Rome was drafted. Which impediments are holding up progress in this direction?