Cameron outlines limited reform

Article reports that UK Conservative Party leader David Cameron successfully faced down hardline Tory Eurosceptics on the 4 November 2009, setting out a very limited programme for European reform without provoking a significant backlash from his party.

He stressed his desire as a future British prime minister to achieve a 'realistic and deliverable' return of powers to the UK, through negotiation over the first term of a Tory government rather than early confrontation.

To the disappointment of many Eurosceptics, the nuclear option of a British referendum on the EU has been dropped.

EurActiv, 5.11.09: UK Conservatives vow to fight back after Lisbon setback http://www.euractiv.com/en/future-eu/uk-conservatives-vow-fight-back-lisbon-setback/article-187063

ESO: Background information: Cameron set to rule out Lisbon vote http://www.europeansources.info/record/cameron-set-to-rule-out-lisbon-vote/

Bruges Group: Press Release, 4.11.09: Does the EU have anything to fear from Cameron? http://www.brugesgroup.com/mediacentre/releases.live?article=14065

Bruges Group: Press Release, 4.11.09: Cameron is breaking his pledge to hold a Lisbon referendum http://www.brugesgroup.com/mediacentre/releases.live?article=14062

UKIP: Press Release, 2.11.09: Cameron "gutless and dishonest" http://www.ukip.org/content/latest-news/1307-cameron-gutless-and-dishonest

Conservative Party: Press Release, 4.11.09: A policy on Europe that people can believe in http://www.conservatives.com/News/News_stories/2009/11/David_Cameron_outlines_approach_to_Europe.aspx

ESO: Background Information: Germany close to ratifying Lisbon treaty http://www.europeansources.info/record/germany-close-to-ratifying-lisbon-treaty/

EurActiv, 6.11.09: Tory MEPs quit over Cameron's EU policy http://www.euractiv.com/en/future-eu/tory-meps-quit-cameron-eu-policy/article-187118

Blog: ConservativeHome: Roger Helmer MEP: Our new European policy is confused and essentially cosmetic - and I cannot defend it from the frontbench, 5.11.09 http://conservativehome.blogs.com/platform/2009/11/roger-helmer-mep-our-new-european-policy-is-confused-and-essentially-cosmetic-and-i-cannot-defend-it.html

The Guardian, 5.11.09: Two MEPs quit Tory frontbench over Cameron Lisbon referendum U-turn http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/nov/05/meps-hannan-helmer-quit-lisbon-referendum

The Guardian, 5.11.09: France: 'Autistic Tories have castrated UK in Europe' http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/nov/04/france-autistic-tories-castrated-uk

BBC News, 5.11.09: French minister bids to calm row http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8345199.stm

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