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Commission welcomes Cameron wish for Britain to stay in EU

23 January 2013, 22:25 CET
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(BRUSSELS) - The EU's executive on Wednesday welcomed Prime Minister David Cameron's declared willingness that Britain remain within the European Union, albeit after renegotiating the terms of its membership.

The European Commission "welcomes that David Cameron wants Britain to remain in the EU," said spokeswoman Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen, adding that it "is very much in the EU's interest and UK's interest" that London remain "an active member" of the bloc.

"The UK brings a great deal to European integration and has helped shape Europe's policies," she added when asked for a response to the British premier's call for an in-out referendum on EU membership.

Cameron said that if re-elected he will seek to renegotiate the terms of Britain's EU membership and then hold a vote by 2017 on whether to remain in the bloc.

European parliament president Martin Schulz said he opposed Cameron's stated intent to renegotiate British ties with the bloc.

"We need a UK as a fully fledged member not harbouring in the port of Dover," Schulz said on Twitter. "UK can shape EU by working with its partners."

"Cameron's Europe a la carte not an option. We have to focus on jobs&growth rather than getting lost in treaties discussions."


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