Brussels, 09/11/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 10 November, the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, will present the list of reforms he wants to see the EU taking and which will decide whether the United Kingdom stays or leaves the EU.
On Tuesday this week, the Prime Minister will provide details of the British list of demands, which will be sent to Donald Tusk. These British renegotiating demands are expected to be the subject of a report from the President of the European Council in view of the forthcoming European Summit in December. According to The Times, the British Prime Minister may hold a referendum in June 2016, if his European partners at the European December summit decide whether they are prepared to accept some of the reforms put forward by the Tory leader.
The publication of this list of grievances will be preceded by a speech by the Prime Minister during which he may indicate (according to the British media) that the decision to leave the EU would be “a irreversible decision” that could have implications, not only on employment and trade but also on the security and safety of the United Kingdom. Nonetheless, David Cameron is expected to explain during the speech that the United Kingdom could survive an exit from the EU but that this will also involve establishing whether his country will succeed better from within or without the Union. On Monday 9 November, the Prime Minister also repeated to entrepreneurs that he would campaign for the country to stay in the EU but that the latter should become “more flexible”.
It should be pointed out, that the British government is seeking reforms in a number of key areas such as eurozone integration, which should not be done to the disadvantage of countries that are not part of the single currency, a reference to the EU with several currencies and not just the euro, the rejection of a continually closer Union and the right to push forward at different speeds, as well as the issue of “benefits tourism”, which the United Kingdom would like to restrict on its territory. The United Kingdom is also calling for the EU to become more competitive. George Osborne, the British treasurer, will be in Brussels on Tuesday 10 November, where he will meet Jean-Claude Juncker to discuss these British demands. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)