Britain's place in Europe

The newly robust stance adopted by Tony Blair in defense of Britain's place in Europe is wholly welcome if somewhat belated. Britain's debate has been conduced for far too long on terms set by the Euroskeptics -- terms which see the Union as a wicked foreign conspiracy to do the nation down.

By forcefully asserting the fundamental national interests -- political and economic -- which bind Britain to its continental European partners, Blair is stepping out of the shadow of his previous timidity. The prime minister's further acknowledgment that there are areas in which both Britain and Europe can benefit from closer integration is similarly refreshing. Too many British prime ministers have failed to understand that integration is a continuing process rather than a random series of isolated events.

-- The Financial Times, London