Brussels, 02/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - In a column published on the Sunday Telegraph website on 30 June, British Prime Minister David Cameron asserted: “I am not against referendums… the two words 'Europe' and 'referendum' can go together.”
Under pressure from eurosceptics in his party, Cameron emphasised, however, that he did not support a referendum on the question of his country being in the EU but rather, on the relationship his country had with the EU. He explained that “leaving would not be in our country's best interests” but added: “the fact is the British people are not happy with what they have, and neither am I”. The British prime minister explained: “What I want - and what I believe the vast majority of the British people want - is to make changes to our relationship” with the EU. He continued: “I will continue to work for a different, more flexible and less onerous position for Britain within the EU.” Cameron considers that the United Kingdom is drowning under too much European bureaucracy and said: “Far from there being too little Europe, there is too much of it. Too much cost; too much bureaucracy; too much meddling in issues that belong to nation states or civic society or individuals.” He added: “Whole swathes of legislation covering social issues, working time and home affairs should, in my view, be scrapped.”
The prime minister did not, however, mention a date for organising such a referendum. A public opinion poll published on 11 June by the Times indicated that 81% of the British public think that a referendum for redefining the country's links with the EU should be organised in the next two years, whilst half of all respondents would like a referendum now. (CG/transl.fl)