UK minister to launch ultimatum: Reform or we’ll leave the EU

Series Title
Series Details 15.01.14
Publication Date 15/01/2014
Content Type

EurActiv and other news sources reported on a speech given by the United Kingdom Chancellor of the Exchequer (Finance Minister) George Osborne to an Open Europe / Fresh Start Pan-European Conference for EU reform in London on the 15 January 2014.

Mr Osborne warned that the European Union must reform if it wanted Britain to remain a member, while saying it faced decline if it resisted change.

Rachida Dati, a senior figure in France's centre-right opposition speaking at the same conference, offered clear support for the UK drive for European Union reform.

Separately, it was reported that UK Prime Minister David Cameron was to use separate meetings with Chancellor Merkel and President Hollande to demand cast-iron legal protections for the City of London as part of the proposed reforms to prevent the UK leaving the EU.

On the 18 January 2014, UK Business Secretary, Vince Cable, said foreign manufacturing companies had approached the UK government with concerns about the UK leaving the EU.

On the 3 February 2014, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier appealed to the UK to remain in the European Union, regardless of progress on the EU treaty change sought by Britain's Conservative-led government.

Source Link http://www.euractiv.com/uk-europe/uk-minister-launch-ultimatum-ref-news-532765
Related Links
ESO: Background information: UK parliament should have right to veto EU laws, MPs say http://www.europeansources.info/record/uk-parliament-should-have-right-to-veto-eu-laws-mps-say/
ESO: Background information: EU referendum bill to be debated by Lords http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-referendum-bill-to-be-debated-by-lords-eu-referendum-bill-defeated-in-uk-parliament/
BBC News, 15.01.14: Osborne: Don't force UK choice between euro or EU exit http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25740462
The Guardian, 15.01.14: Reform EU or Britain quits - George Osborne lays down ultimatum http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jan/15/george-osborne-reform-eu-quits-tory-dismantling
EUObserver, 15.01.14: 'Reform or we leave EU,' warns British chancellor http://euobserver.com/news/122734
Open Europe: Pan-European Conference for EU reform http://www.eureformconference.org/
UK: Gov.uk: HM Treasury: Speech, 15.01.14: Extracts from the Chancellor's speech on Europe https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/extracts-from-the-chancellors-speech-on-europe
EUObserver [Analysis], 16.01.14: A view from London: Desperately seeking EU reform http://euobserver.com/political/122737
The Guardian, 15.01.14: Protection for London's banks at heart of UK's EU reform plans, says Osborne http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jan/15/banks-eu-reform-plans-george-osborne
Euronews, 15.01.14: Reform or face irrelevance, Britain tells EU http://www.euronews.com/2014/01/15/reform-or-face-irrelevance-britain-tells-eu/
The Guardian, 15.01.14: David Cameron to demand EU treaty reform to 'save' City of London http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/15/cameron-to-demand-eu-treaty-reform
Deutsche Welle, 15.01.14: UK finance minister threatens European Union exit, once again http://dw.de/p/1Ar5d
BBC News [Audio], 16.01.14: Schulz: UK should become 'fully fledged EU member' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25755839
Irish Times, 15.01.14: How Britain pursues its relationship with the EU is full of consequence for others http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/how-britain-pursues-its-relationship-with-the-eu-is-full-of-consequence-for-others-1.1655094?page=1
BBC News, 16.01.14: Rachida Dati backs Cameron on EU http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25759383
Deutsche Welle [Interview], 16.01.14: 'Reforms essential for EU survival' http://dw.de/p/1ArpN
The Guardian, 20.01.14: British exit from EU may scare off foreign investors, admits Vince Cable http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jan/18/british-exit-eu-scare-foreign-investors-vince-cable
Blog: Ideas on Europe: Politics at Surrey, 16.01.14: The myth of a static EU http://politicsatsurrey.ideasoneurope.eu/2014/01/16/the-myth-of-a-static-eu/
Deutsche Welle, 03.02.14: Steinmeier urges UK to stay in EU, voices doubt on treaty change http://dw.de/p/1B2CX
Blog: Open Europe, 06.02.14: All hail Angela Merkel – No 10 goes all out for the Chancellor http://openeuropeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/all-hail-angela-merkel-no-10-goes-all.html

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