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UP FRONTFriday 22 January 2016
Davos Watch:
British future in EU? French PM warns of exit ‘tragedy’
British Prime Minister David Cameron speaks during a panel session at the 46th Annual Meeting of PAN PYLAS ment, including what to do
the World Economic Forum, WEF, in Davos, Switzerland, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016. The overarching Associated Press with the Schengen Agree-
theme of the meeting, which takes place from 20 to 23 January, is “Mastering the Fourth Industrial DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) ment that allows borderless
Revolution”. — Worries over a British exit travel across much of the
from the European Union continent. Cameron laid
(Laurent Gillieron/Keystone via AP) weighed on participants at out his four reform propos-
the World Economic Forum als, which he insisted were
on Thursday, with France’s “not outrageous asks.” He
prime minister warning that said he wants to “hard-
it would be a “tragedy” wire” competitiveness into
that could prove an inspi- the EU’s DNA, make sure
ration to populists around non-euro countries like Brit-
the region at a time when ain aren’t discriminated
many countries are con- by the 19 EU countries that
tending with massive num- use the euro currency, get
bers of refugees. British Britain out of the idea of
Prime Minister David Cam- an “ever-closer union” and
eron said he’s in no hurry to curbs on migration and
hold a referendum on his benefits.Since joining what
country’s future in theEU, was then known as the Eu-
if a deal on his reform pro- ropean Economic Commu-
posals doesn’t emerge nity in 1973, Britain’s mem-
at a summit of European bership has often been
leaders in February. But he strained. Over the past few
insisted that his aim is to years, a groundswell of
“secure” Britain’s future in a opinion in the country thinks
reformed EU, a stance that exiting the EU is the best
he says is the best outcome option, especially at a time
for both sides. “If there’s a when many of its members
good deal on the table, I are getting closer together,
will take it,” he told an au- notably with the creation
dience of mainly business of the euro currency. In last
leaders in the Swiss ski re- May’s election, the U.K. In-
sort of Davos. “But if there dependence Party, which
isn’t the right deal, I’m not aims to get Britain out of
in a hurry. I can hold my the EU, won 4 million, or just
referendum any time up under 13 percent of the
until the end of 2017. And total. Many supporters of
it’s much more important Cameron’s Conservatives
to get this right than to rush would likely vote for Brexit
it.” One of the major tenets too whatever deal emerg-
of the manifesto of Cam- es. While Britain has been
eron’s Conservative Party, at the forefront of efforts to
which won a governing create the European single
majority in last May’s gen- market and led a series of
eral election, was a pledge foreign policy and devel-
to hold a referendum on opment initiatives, there
Britain’s future in the EU by have been growing con-
the end of 2017 after a re- cerns of late over high lev-
negotiation process. els of immigration particu-
Britain’s future in the EU is larly from eastern Europe
set to be the main discus- and over the influence of
sion point a summit of the the 19-country eurozone.
EU’s 28 leaders on Feb. Mark Rutte, the Dutch
18-19. The thinking until prime minister whose coun-
very recently was that an try holds the rotating presi-
agreement would emerge dency of the EU, said he’s
then, paving the way for a “fairly optimistic” that a
referendum in the summer. deal can emerge in Febru-
The refugee crisis that has ary but that’s he’s “not ab-
engulfed Europe over the solutely sure.” Rutte, often
past few months as people referred to as Cameron’s
leave conflict zones, nota- best friend in the EU lead-
bly from Syria, has raised ers club, said Europe
worries that a deal may not needs Britain to remain in
be achieved in time — for the EU as the country is out-
one thing a referendum ward-looking and trade-
date will need time to legis- oriented, attributes that the
late. Many European issues stagnant economic region
are up in the air at the mo- needs.q
