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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| EU referendum: US wants 'strong UK in strong EU' | EU referendum: US wants 'strong UK in strong EU' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The US has a "profound interest in a strong UK staying in a very strong EU", says US Secretary of State John Kerry. | The US has a "profound interest in a strong UK staying in a very strong EU", says US Secretary of State John Kerry. |
| Speaking in Germany, he said many Europeans felt "overwhelmed" by recent challenges but the US was confident Europe would "emerge stronger". | Speaking in Germany, he said many Europeans felt "overwhelmed" by recent challenges but the US was confident Europe would "emerge stronger". |
| His comments come ahead of a crucial Brussels summit, where Prime Minister David Cameron is hoping to secure a deal on a reformed EU. | His comments come ahead of a crucial Brussels summit, where Prime Minister David Cameron is hoping to secure a deal on a reformed EU. |
| Campaigners for EU exit have said the PM's renegotiation is a sham. | Campaigners for EU exit have said the PM's renegotiation is a sham. |
| Mr Cameron, who was also in Germany, said changes he was seeking to UK membership would make Europe "more outward-looking, competitive and dynamic". | Mr Cameron, who was also in Germany, said changes he was seeking to UK membership would make Europe "more outward-looking, competitive and dynamic". |
| He hopes to secure a package that he can recommend to the British public, ahead of a referendum on whether the UK should stay in or leave the EU. | |
| 'Stays united' | 'Stays united' |
| Mr Kerry, who spoke about the EU while at security conference in Munich, said Europe was facing a number of challenges including the UK's potential exit. | Mr Kerry, who spoke about the EU while at security conference in Munich, said Europe was facing a number of challenges including the UK's potential exit. |
| "Here again however, I want to express the confidence of President Obama and all of us in America that, just as it has so many times before, Europe is going to emerge stronger than ever, provided it stays united and builds common responses to these challenges," he said. | "Here again however, I want to express the confidence of President Obama and all of us in America that, just as it has so many times before, Europe is going to emerge stronger than ever, provided it stays united and builds common responses to these challenges," he said. |
| "Now obviously, the United States has a profound interest in your success as we do in very strong United Kingdom staying in a strong EU." | "Now obviously, the United States has a profound interest in your success as we do in very strong United Kingdom staying in a strong EU." |
| Last year, US President Barack Obama said the UK must stay in the EU to continue to have influence on the world stage. | Last year, US President Barack Obama said the UK must stay in the EU to continue to have influence on the world stage. |
| In a speech to business, political and civic leaders in Hamburg, Mr Cameron said he would campaign "unequivocally" for the UK to stay in - if the EU agreed to the new terms of membership. | |
| While defending Britain's right to protect its sovereignty, he told his audience - which included German Chancellor Angela Merkel - that Britain was an "open nation" and he "never wants us to pull up the drawbridge and retreat from the world". | |
| "So when it comes to the question of Britain's future in Europe, my aim is clear," he said. "I want to keep Britain inside a reformed European Union." | |
| Mr Cameron also appealed for Germany's help in finalising reforms, stressing the countries' shared interests and values. | |
| Negotiations on the final wording of the deal - which includes an "emergency brake" on benefit payments to EU migrants and a UK opt-out from "ever closer union" - look set to carry on right up to the start of the Brussels summit on 18 February. | |
| Further reading on the UK's EU referendum | Further reading on the UK's EU referendum |
| Guide: All you need to know about the referendum | Guide: All you need to know about the referendum |
| EU renegotiation: Did Cameron get what he wanted? | EU renegotiation: Did Cameron get what he wanted? |
| Referendum timeline: What will happen when? | Referendum timeline: What will happen when? |
| The view from Europe: What's in it for the others? | The view from Europe: What's in it for the others? |
| More: BBC News EU referendum special | More: BBC News EU referendum special |