Profession says no to single Euro currency

‘Europe: yes. Euro: no’ is the message from an exclusive HaysAccountancyPersonnel/Accountancy Age survey of more than 200 accountants across the country.

Four-out-of-five respondents said that they were not in favour of Britain pulling out of the European Union, with a similar number saying that the economy would not be stronger outside Europe.

But while 78% supported the concept of a tariff-free Europe, 69% were opposed to the introduction of a single European currency. A fully federal Europe was opposed by 87%. Two-thirds believed that Brussels bureaucracy was ‘a waste of money’.

The results highlight frustration in the financial community, with 65% expressing concern that UK reluctance to be at the forefront of Europe could cost London its position as the pre-eminent financial city in Europe. The same number said that there should be a referendum on Europe, and 42% said that membership of the EU was an issue which was likely to affect the way they vote at the next general election.

Denis Waxman, managing director of Hays Accountancy Personnel, said: ‘I am slightly surprised that accountants are not very enthusiastic about a single European currency. But the survey underlines the general difference of opinion among the electorate at large.’