No, in 1973, Britain abandoned the European Free Trade Area, in order to join the EU. In the referendum in 1975, a government leaflet confirmed the goal was "ever closer union" and it was delivered to every single UK household {see the link to it http://www.harvard-digital.co.uk/euro/pamphlet_valid.html). Mrs Thatcher said during the referendum campaign "It is about much more than free trade." Being inside the EU is very strongly in our national interest. It gives us influence over the decisions made by other Europeans. We provide multinational companies from America, China and Japan, a place inside the EU Single Market.If the UK were to quit the EU, it would be the start of national economic suicide. We would lose investment by multinationals, our best youngsters would leave for better-paid careers elsewhere, and our trade with the EU would become more difficult because we had given up our influence over the rules.
Since 1945, European countries have been learning to work together. First the goal was Peace. Peace across Europe was not built by NATO (has NATO created "peace" in Afghanistan?) but is built by constructing legal rights for individuals. Now, the goal is for Europeans - all of us being small countries on the world scale - to have a strong combined voice vis-à-vis the emerging giants - China, India, USA, Russia, Brazil etc. If Europeans chose instead to operate separately in the coming century, our children would find their in world decisions is much reduced.
Taken from the website of Bill Newton Dunn, Lib Dem MEP for the East Midlands (www.newton-dunn.com)