Madam, - I read with great pleasure John Waters's insightful column on the EU (Opinion, June 27th). He could have added the fact that the EU gravy train has derailed just as Ireland is about to become a net contributor to the EU budget.
An alternative analogy for the EU has been that of a bicycle that has to keep moving forward because otherwise it will fall down. Pyramid sales schemes are built on this principle.
The EU does not need to be like this. It does not need these regular crises.
An alternative vision for the EU is needed - one that is built on free co-operation by its member-states, not on coercion by an increasingly powerful central authority.
After 50 years of European co-operation we deserve an EU vision more stable than the current one. - Yours, etc,
DICK HUMPHREYS, Mount Merrion, Co Dublin.