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Britain should reform EU, not retreat: Rehn

28 February 2013, 18:48 CET
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(LONDON) - EU Economy Commissioner Olli Rehn on Thursday urged Britain to focus on reforming the bloc instead of pushing for weaker ties between its members.

British Prime Minister David Cameron announced in January that he would seek to repatriate many powers from the EU and then hold a referendum on Britain's membership of the group by the end of 2017.

But in a speech in London on the future of the eurozone and Britain's relationship with the EU, Rehn said it was "in everyone's interests for Britain to be an active player... no one has ever scored goals sitting on the bench".

"I believe it is firmly in Britain's interest to use its energy for reforming Europe rather than trying to undo our community which would leave us all weaker," Rehn said at the event organised by the Policy Network think-tank.

"In a nutshell, why not focus on reform, rather than repatriation?"

Rehn argued that the single market needs "rules, regulations and strong and effective institutions in order to function", adding: "Prime minister Margaret Thatcher understood this well".

He added: "Whatever choices Britain ultimately makes about its future in Europe I trust that this great European country will support the rebuilding of our economic and monetary union."

The British premier's referendum announcement sent shockwaves through the 27-member EU as it tries to return to stability after the three-year crisis in the eurozone.

While Cameron has said he supports a renegotiated EU membership for Britain -- which does not use the euro -- recent polls show a majority of Britons would vote to leave the bloc.

Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans said at the Policy Network event that he agreed with some of Cameron's complaints about Europe, but warned the threat of leaving was not helpful.

"I call upon the British government to join us with other countries to reform the union from within, to force the Brussels bubble to look at itself," Timmermans said.

The European Commission's Rehn meanwhile urged Italy to continue with economic reforms despite an inconclusive general election this week that has left the eurozone nation with no workable majority in parliament.

"It is important that Italy continues to reform for the sake of sustainable growth," he said.


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