Dublin, 09/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - The presidents of the European Commission and European Council, José Manuel Barroso and Herman Van Rompuy, along with the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU are calling for the United Kingdom to remain completely in Europe, but the British prime minister, David Cameron, is recommending changes to the UK's relationship with the European Union (see EUROPE 10758). Speaking in Dublin, Van Rompuy said the UK was a highly appreciated EU member and it was in its interest to remain a member, and a very active member. He said he appreciated the UK's presence and its action and hoped it would continue to be a member. Barroso, Van Rompuy and the Irish Presidency all said it was, however, for the British people to decide on the matter.
Barroso said it was in the interest of the EU to have the United Kingdom at the heart of the EU. The UK has done a lot for European integration and the EU needed a strong UK that was committed to the EU because a strong Europe was needed in the world. He added that the UK had always been in favour of free trade and was needed in the talks on a free trade deal that are about to open with the United States.
The Irish prime minister, Enda Kenny, said the United Kingdom was a key player in Europe with a decisive role to play in the development of the single market and international trade, and it would be a disaster if a country like the UK were to quit the EU. Both Kenny and the Irish foreign minister, Eamon Gilmore, said they had a huge interest in the UK remaining not only in Europe, but at the heart of the EU, pointing out that Europe was not a matter of pick-and-mix.
Ireland is geographically, economically and culturally close to the United Kingdom and wants to use its influence to discuss the situation with London. Irish European affairs minister, Lucinda Creighton, said that the two countries had excellent bilateral relations and the Irish Presidency was in a good position to be an honest broker and act as the UK's friend, pointing out that Ireland would always be a bridge between the UK and the European Union.
Making reassuring noises, Van Rompuy said that, in talks, David Cameron had told him he didn't want the United Kingdom to leave the EU and rejected the Norwegian solution. Norway is not a member of the EU but has free access to the single market. It does not have any say in the preparation of legislation. Barroso said hoped the debate would not distract attention from the important matter of the crisis.
The United States urges UK to remain in the EU. Passing through London on 10 January, the deputy US secretary of state for European affairs, Philip H. Gordon, called on the UK to remain in the EU, saying that the EU had a growing voice in the world and the US wanted to see a strong British voice. He said that the UK's voice in Europe was more decisive and indispenable for the United States than others. (CG/transl.fl)