Britain urges Germany for deal on EU reform

BERLIN: British Finance Minister George Osborne appealed to Germany on Tuesday to ensure euro zone decisions and costs are not imposed on Britain in exchange for help making the single currency union stronger.

Osborne, seen as the frontrunner to succeed Prime Minister David Cameron, is leading a new round of talks in European capitals, keen to sell Britain’s proposals for reform while keeping vocal eurosceptics in his own party at bay before a referendum on membership of the bloc by the end of 2017.

Changes needed

Speaking to government and business leaders in Berlin, Osborne outlined what he said were “the changes we need to stay in the European Union”.

“Let me be candid: There is a deal to be done and we can work together,” he said at an event sponsored by the Federation of German Industry (BDI).

“Rather than stand in your way and veto the treaty amendments required, we in Britain can support you in the euro zone make the lasting changes that you need to see to strengthen the euro. In return, you can help us make the changes we need to safeguard the interests of those economies who are not in the euro zone,” he said.

Staying in EU

With UK opinion polls showing a narrowing of support for staying in the EU, Cameron’s government is under increasing pressure to take on eurosceptics in both his ruling Conservative Party and the opposition Labour camp directly.

Nigel Farage, leader of the anti-EU UK Independence Party (UKIP), described Osborne’s speech as “sycophancy” and said it sounded “more like a speech from an EU Commissioner.

“Who is he actually working for?” Farage asked.