Detailed employment statistics for each EU Member State are now available for 2001. The results are most revealing.
Only four countries have employment levels higher than EU targets: the Netherlands, the UK, Denmark and Sweden.
For people over the age of 50, only three countries exceed the separate EU employment target: the UK, Denmark and Sweden.
It is significant that these three countries manage their own economies, and are the only three not to be saddled with the euro.
Sweden will have its own referendum on the single currency on September 14, and the Swedish Prime Minister is promising 100,000 extra jobs if voters say Yes.
The evidence to date suggests the exact opposite: Yes to the euro means No to more jobs.
I suspect Swedish voters will show they understand this too.
Philip Bushill-Matthews MEP, European Parliament, Brussels, Kyrle Street, Hereford.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article