The Independent today listed 50 reasons why we should love Europe. My feelings are in blue

1 The end of war between European nations - hmm have we forgotten about the Balkans war already?
2 Democracy is now flourishing in 27 countries - That is good
3 Once-poor countries, such as Ireland, Greece and Portugal, are prospering - That's nice for them.
4 The creation of the world's largest internal trading market - Okay, good.
5 Unparalleled rights for European consumers - really??
6 Co-operation on continent-wide immigration policy - If you say so, Franco/British co-operation hasn't been so hot.
7 Co-operation on crime, through Europol - Good
8 Laws that make it easier for British people to buy property in Europe - My number one, still dreaming of that bolt hole in Spain
9 Cleaner beaches and rivers throughout Europe - yes a good thing but the 9th best reason?
10 Four weeks statutory paid holiday a year for workers in Europe - we still work too hard in Britain
11 No death penalty (it is incompatible with EU membership) - but we didn't have a death penalty anyway not since the mid 1960s, hard to credit this to Europe.
12 Competition from privatised companies means cheaper phone calls - that comes from Europe??
13 Small EU bureaucracy (24,000 employees, fewer than the BBC) - but how many translators?
14 Making the French eat British beef again - are they?
15 Minority languages, such as Irish, Welsh and Catalan recognised and protected - and everyone ends up speaking English, very annoying if you are French
16 Europe is helping to save the planet with regulatory cuts in CO2 - hmm with 6 new coal plants opening up every month in China this makes a difference?
17 One currency from Bantry to Berlin (but not Britain) - best of both worlds, we only need to change our currency once and we get to keep the pound.
18 Europe-wide travel bans on tyrants such as Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe - yes the condemnation of Mugabe by Europe has been overwhelming hasn't it ? :sarcasm:
19 The EU gives twice as much aid to developing countries as the United States - impressive, if true
20 Strict safety standards for cars, buses and aircraft yes, okay
21 Free medical help for tourists - very good
22 EU peacekeepers operate in trouble spots throughout the world - rright
23 Europe's single market has brought cheap flights to the masses, and new prosperity for forgotten cities - which the British Chancellor will now make more expensive with new green taxes
24 Introduction of pet passports - good thing, can take your pet with you
25 It now takes only 2 hrs 35 mins from London to Paris by Eurostar - but you have to pack your fencing bag in the hold and then it gets lost - allegedly
26 Prospect of EU membership has forced modernisation on Turkey - but Turkey still can't join
27 Shopping without frontiers gives consumers more power to shape markets - globilisation, surely?
28 Cheap travel and study programmes means greater mobility for Europe's youth - possibly, but fewer Brits are learning a European language
29 Food labelling is much clearer but now it lots of different languages
30 No tiresome border checks (apart from in the UK) - oh there was a time when you could sail through the customs in France and Britain. It did feel good sailing past all the Americans queuing up to get into Italy when I visited Rome two years ago.
31 Compensation for passengers suffering air delays - we have to thank Europe for this?
32 Strict ban on animal testing for the cosmetic industry - okay
33 Greater protection for Europe's wildlife - okay
34 Regional development fund has aided the deprived parts of Britain - yes, now we can make the south-east a deprived part please
35 European driving licences recognised across the EU - okay
36 Britons now feel a lot less insular - yes, true
37 Europe's bananas remain bent, despite sceptics' fears - yes, enough of these silly scares
38 Strong economic growth - greater than the United States last year - yay
39 Single market has brought the best continental footballers to Britain - but also those from South America, Far-East etc - was this really the single market?
40 Human rights legislation has protected the rights of the individual - yes sometimes to an insane degree
41 European Parliament provides democratic checks on all EU laws ah I can sleep better knowing that
42 EU gives more, not less, sovereignty to nation states - REALLY? Someone must tell Tony Blair the number of times the British government blames European legislation for things...
43 Maturing EU is a proper counterweight to the power of US and China - oh yes, when we can actually speak with one voice it would
44 European immigration has boosted the British economy - Yay for the Poles but they seem to have gone home again
45 Europeans are increasingly multilingual - except Britons, who are less so - well all those nice Europeans will learn English so why should we bother :sarcasm:
46 Europe has set Britain an example how properly to fund a national health service - has it? The German system was far superior to ours, I would agree.
47 British restaurants now much more cosmopolitan - are they? Mostly Indian, Chinese or Thai, I would say.
48 Total mobility for career professionals in Europe - if they have language skills
49 Europe has revolutionised British attitudes to food and cooking - no the Empire and the immigrants to Britain from the empire did that - see 47.
50 Lists like this drive the Eurosceptics mad - well that is always a worthwile exercise!