I must take issue with Roger Smith (see [2004] Gazette, 13 May, 16).

He is muddling two quite distinct matters.

Many of the proposed 'Eurojustice' standards are desirable in his view.

He may well be right, but what has that got to do with whether ceding powers in this area to the EU is a loss of sovereignty that may contribute to the death knell of the nation state?

I would have thought it self evident that any transfer of power from London to the EU makes the eventual death of our nation state a little more, rather than a little less, likely.

Michael Heneker, Hyde Mahon Bridges, London