Brussels, 09/02/2015 (Agence Europe) - The British Prime Minister, David Cameron, may decide to bring forward by one year, to 2016, the referendum he has promised the British citizens to ask them whether they wish to remain in the European Union, reported the Sunday Times of 8 February.
Up to now, the head of government had been planning to spend a year more negotiating reforms with his European partners to bring back certain powers from Brussels to the United Kingdom and then to go to the country in 2017, as long as he wins the general elections of next May. However, the newspaper reports that one of the possible scenarios would be to speed up the process and start negotiations with the other 27 member states this summer. David Cameron could then announce the results of his efforts in October of this year, at the annual Conservative party conference, and the vote would be held in spring or autumn 2016.
In an interview with the BBC in early January of this year, the Prime Minister warned that he wanted to bring the referendum forward, but did not specify a timetable. (Solenn Paulic)