But, of course, this can only function smoothly if exchange-rate fluctuations between its members’ currencies have been eliminated. Although an Atlantic Monetary Union (between the US and the EU) is a long-term prospect, it should be considered as a grand design for the future.
欧洲自己的经验告诉我们，关税联盟必须是发展自由贸易区的第一步，然后，关税联盟带来的更紧密的经济合作迟早会迫使其成员建立具有统一的内部市场一切特征的经济共同体。但是，当然，这只有在其成员国之间的汇率波动被消除以后才能顺利运行。虽然大西洋货币联盟（美国和欧盟之间的联盟）是一个长期以来的期望，然而，它仅可以作为一个未来的宏大蓝图来考虑。