British Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Friday that Britain must adjust to the facts and accept that its future lay in Europe.
In a keynote speech in Birmingham, the Prime Minister said Britain had been damaged by its 'history of missed opportunities' in Europe which must now be rectified.
'The tragedy for British politics - for Britain - has been that politicians of both parties have consistently failed, not just in the 1950s but on up to the present day, to appreciate the emerging reality of European integration. And in doing so they have failed Britain's interests,' he said.
Although he stuck to the line that the British government's five economic tests must be met before it recommended joining the euro in a referendum, his speech was widely trailed as the most pro-single currency of his premiership.
The overwhelmingly pro-European tone of his speech - and the emphasis on past failures to keep pace with developments - will be seen as further evidence of his determination to press ahead with a referendum in the current Parliament.
Mr Blair said that Britain's future was 'inextricably linked' with Europe and that in order to get the best out of it, it must be a 'whole-hearted, not half-hearted' partner.
He mounted a scathing attack on the 'embarrassingly long history' of Euroscepticism by British politicians across the political spectrum which had let down the national interest.
