When the french voted against the European Constitution, they voted against the eastern europeans who joined the Union, they became exclusive (I don't want you) rather than inclusive (welcome aboard) and they soon understood how shameful that sounded. I wasn't happy about this.
A referendum is certainly a democratic process, but people vote too often with their guts rather than their heads, thinking short term and not long term.
The Euro currency is the best thing that happened to us europeans! At least something that affects our dayly life !
If the British citizens think they're so different from the continental europeans, they should think again: The french speak french, are disorganized, fussy, and unpleasant to anybody who doesn't understand them. The germans are extremely disciplined, always on time, pragmatic, obedient....They are SOOOOOOOO different from each other and YET, they founded the European Union together, right from the beginning !!!
That "culture" difference is no excuse! Besides, I'm Belgo-American and some of those whom I found most inspiring are british: AC Clarke, Richard Dawkins, Lovelock, etc.....