Graham Watson (Letters 11/06/04) is right to warn of the dangers of leaving the EU.

UKIP and others who advocate pulling out of Europe, want us to join the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). This draconian trade agreement would, for example, leave the UK open to being sued by American companies if we pass health and safety measures that "discriminate" against them. They also want to hand over a considerable degree of decision-making to the World Trade Organisation.

This is no protection of British sovereignty and control over our own economy. For the same reasons it would be wrong to join the Euro that Graham Watson advocates. The Euro was designed to serve big business and such a one-size-fits-all economic policy would undermine local economies.

We desperately need a reformed EU. One based on greater decentralisation, but with EU-wide decision-making on things that cross national boundaries, like environmental protection and guarantees on human rights. We want an end to the EU gravy train, and we want greater accountability of MEPs. In fact the cross-party Campaign for Parliamentary Reform has just named the Greens the most reform-minded UK party.

You'd think all parties would sign a pledge to tackle EU wastefulness and inefficiency, but not so. More Greens have signed the pledge than members of all the other UK parties put together.

True reform starts at grass roots level. It means more local democracy, supporting local businesses and nurturing the domestic economy. It means recognising the EU for the amazingly useful tool for progress that it could become.

Martin Whiteside Hillside, Claypits Lane, Lypiatt, Stroud Green Party Parliamentary Candidate for Stroud