JUDGING by the tone of his letter headed "We don't owe the EU anything" (Your Letters, Sept 10) Mr Hurley could be one of those people who thinks he knows the cost of everything but appears to know the value of nothing.

In this country we already owe the EU and, in particular, the European Parliament, a debt of gratitude for protecting and advancing our interests and our quality of life often, under the previous administration, in the teeth of the opposition of our own government.

The list ranges from health and safety at work to protection of our natural environment. All that is without even considering the contribution made to our prosperity by easing the barriers to trade with our European neighbours and creating "a level playing field" between us, thereby protecting us from unfair competition or persuading us to pull our socks up where necessary.

Mr Hurley also leaves out the original reason for forging European co-operation, which was to make war between us and our neighbours unthinkable. It is too easy for some to forget that two generations of our forebears were decimated by inter-European conflict.

If all that is insufficient for Mr Hurley then he should reflect on the outcome of the World Sustainability Conference in Johannesburg. That demonstrated the daunting obstacles in the way of the international co-operation needed to save us all from an excess of short-sighted greed and parochialism.

It also demonstrated the need for international leadership with sufficient clout to carry the day. Regrettably the United States is unwilling to provide that leadership if it means asking Americans to moderate their profligate lifestyle. So the only political entity currently capable of providing alternative leadership, and backing it with political influence and economic power, is the EU.

The Johannesburg summit was disappointing, but what it did achieve was largely down to the leadership of the EU solidly backed by the UK. We would do well to remember that we have votes and representatives in the EU Parliament and other institutions in Brussels.

Lastly, anyone looking back through the articles Gary Titley has penned on his work in the European Parliament will see that he is not afraid to get stuck-in and criticise the EU where that is necessary. But his aim is to stay in there protecting our interests, not to foster myths about retreating to our island clutching the dosh and hoping that the problems which we share with our neighbours will stay away.

COUNCILLOR DEREK BODEN,

(Bury councillor and member of

EU committee of the regions).