The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Cautionon withdrawal from EU
ITALY’S PRIME Minister Enrico Letta yesterday cautioned against UK withdrawal from the European Union, saying it was in Europe’s interests for Britain to “stay on board”.
Speaking alongside David Cameron following talks at 10 Downing Street, Mr Letta said that the EU would be “worse” without Britain but said he had no fear of the in/out referendum on UK membership which the prime minister has promised by the end of 2017.
With Mr Cameron pushing for a renegotiation of the terms of Britain’s relations with Europe after the 2015 general election, Mr Letta said he believed that a treaty was possible that would create a more flexible EU, not only for the UK but also for eurozone members like Italy.
“I am here to say that there is an Italian interest and a European interest that the UK stays on board the European process,” said Mr Letta, who took office at the head of a coalition government in Rome in April.
“It is important because without the UK on board, the EU would be worse. It would be less liberal, less innovative, less pro-open market, less pro-single market, less of a global player in the world.”
Asked whether he believed an allencompassing reform of the whole EU was possible, or whether Mr Cameron would have to seek a special deal for the UK, Mr Letta said: “My answer is very clear. Of course we need reform, and we need reform of all the EU for the countries.
“We countries sharing the single currency need to have a more integrated euro area.
“I think it will be possible to have a common very near future in which we can have treaty changes for having a more flexible Europe in the interests of the UK, but also in the interests of Italy and the euro area countries.”
Mr Letta also rejected suggestions that supporters of Britain’s EU membership had anything to fear from the proposed referendum.
“When the voters have the opportunity to say their decision about the future of the European Union, it is always a good thing for Europe,” he said.
“I personally have no fear about the referendum. It will be, for sure, something positive for Europe and the UK.”
Mr Cameron said that Mr Letta’s comments were a reflection of the fact that, in seeking reform for Europe, Britain was winning “a positive response from the German chancellor, the Italian prime minister, the Swedish prime minister, the Dutch prime minister”.
He added: “Not all of us will agree about every change that is necessary but I think there is growing understanding that change is needed to make this organisation work better for all its countries.”
Mr Cameron added that there was a “joint Anglo-Italian agenda” on completing the single market and promoting competitiveness and jobs, which he and Mr Letta would be pushing together at forthcoming meetings of the European Council.