French accuse PM of attempting to dismantle Europe
As Hammond says voters are ready to quit EU...
THE Foreign Secretary warned EU leaders yesterday that Britain will vote to leave unless they make major concessions, as France accused the Prime Minister of trying to dismantle the union.
David Cameron met French President Francois Hollande for talks on EU reform in Paris and told him the status quo is not an option.
It came as Philip Hammond said the EU would have to make concessions to Britain on welfare, immigration and the future direction of Europe. Suggesting Britain’s In/Out referendum could be held as early as next year, the Foreign Secretary added: ‘The Prime Minister is very clear in dealing with European counterparts that if we are not able to deliver on these big areas of concern the British people have, we will not win the referendum when it comes.’
Mr Cameron, who is on a two-day tour of EU capitals in an attempt to drum up support for reform, will fly to Berlin today for crunch talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
In an extraordinary intervention just hours before Mr Cameron touched down in Paris, French foreign minister Laurent Fabius said: ‘We want Britain to stay in the EU. We support improvements to the union, but we cannot agree to dismantling it. Britain joined a football club. They can’t now say in the middle of the match that they want to play rugby. It’s one thing or the other.’
The stand-off in France underlined the difficulties Mr Cameron may face as he tries to negotiate reforms to put to the public during the referendum campaign.
Speaking at a news conference at Elysee Palace last night, he expressed hope of getting support from France, which he called an ‘essential and valuable partner’.
Mr Cameron said his priority was to address the concerns of the British public and make the EU more competitive.
‘The status quo is not good enough,’ he warned. ‘I believe there are changes we can make that will not just benefit Britain but the rest of Europe too.
‘What matters is the EU and its 28 members are flexible and imaginative enough to respond to these issues and to work together to find answers that will make the EU more successful. That is the challenge of our times, and I believe strongly we can meet it.’
Earlier, Mr Cameron held talks with Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte in the Netherlands. Today he will fly to Warsaw for discus- sions with his Polish counterpart, Ewa Kopacz, before meeting Mrs Merkel, who holds the key to his chances of success.
Ministers yesterday published the EU Referendum Bill, which Mr Cameron said he wanted to push through Parliament in ‘extra quick time’.
The legislation, which will be debated by MPs on June 9, confirms that most EU migrants living in the UK will not be eligible to vote.
Voters will be asked: ‘Should the UK remain a member of the European Union?’ The framing of the question means those campaigning to stay in the EU will have the advantage of running a positive ‘Yes’ campaign.
The legislation confirmed the final possible date for the referendum is December 31 2017, although most observers expect it to come much earlier.
Mr Hammond, who will name the date for the referendum, said he would ‘like to get on with it’.
He hinted that ‘a substantial package of reform which will address the concerns that the British people have’ could be negotiated by Christmas.
The Foreign Secretary also confirmed that the Government believes the reforms it is seeking – particularly on curbing migrants’ access to benefits – will require changes to the EU treaties, which Paris and Berlin are reluctant to agree to.
Comment – Page 14
Britain joined a football club. They can’t now say in the middle of the match that they want to play rugby. It’s one or the other French foreign minister Laurent Fabius