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Cameron to urge EU change effort Cameron to set out vision for EU
(about 2 hours later)
Conservative leader David Cameron is expected to urge his party to change the European Union "from within". Conservative leader David Cameron is to set out his vision for the EU, saying it should focus on the "things that matter" rather than internal wrangling.
In a speech in Brussels he will call for a greater focus on global issues such as globalisation and climate change, rather than internal politics. In a rare speech on European issues in Brussels, he will resist calls to lead a Tory retreat from the union.
But Mr Cameron will reject calls by the UK Independence Party for the UK to leave the EU. He will vow instead to push for the UK's national interest on issues like climate change and tackling poverty.
Europe Minister Geoff Hoon criticised Mr Cameron's views, saying they would "marginalise Britain". Mr Cameron is under pressure from some in his party after pledging to pull out of a federalist grouping of MEPs.
'Moment to reflect' Some Conservative MEPs are thought to be unhappy about Mr Cameron's plan to withdraw party from the centre-right European People's Party (EPP) after the 2009 European elections.
Mr Cameron will speak at the first conference of the new Movement for European Reform, founded last year when the Conservatives said they would pull out of the European People's Party after the 2009 Euro elections. He will be trotting out that old Tory mantra 'In Europe, but not run by Europe' when we all know that this is not possible Nigel Farage, UKIP leader on Mr Cameron's speech
He will be trotting out that old Tory mantra: 'In Europe, but not run by Europe.' when we all know that this is not possible Nigel Farage, UKIP leader on Mr Cameron's speech But he is also under pressure from euroscpetics at Westminster, including a small group of MPs who want British withdrawal from the EU, who say he has broken his promise to pull out of the EPP sooner.
Mr Cameron is attempting to form a new group in the European Parliament, the Movement for European Reform, with the Czech party, the ODS.
'Polite'
Mr Cameron, who is trying to attract like-minded parties to join the new group, will speak later at its first conference in Brussels.
Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek will also address the event.Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek will also address the event.
Mr Cameron is expected to say: "This is a moment for us to reflect on where the EU is - and where it needs to be." Under EU rules there must be parties from at least five countries to form a Parliamentary group.
He will expand on what he thinks the EU's priorities should be - as he puts it, the "three Gs" of globalisation, global warming and global poverty. In his speech, Mr Cameron will set out his approach to EU negotiations if he becomes prime minister.
Last week, shadow chancellor George Osborne said the EU needed a "complete change of direction". He will pledge to end British "posturing" on Europe, saying: "I believe that the best way to pursue your national interest is not to posture - but to persuade.
He criticised leaders for failing to realise that they needed to address competition within the EU, as well as with the rest of the world. "I will be polite, but solid and consistent. I will work to create a flexible Europe by building alliances with those who share our interests and our ideas.
Mr Osborne said: "It needs to work out how to use the political institutions of the EU to help. That requires a 180 degrees change in thinking. "That is why we have formed the Movement for European Reform. To act together with others to respond to the feeling of so many of our fellow Europeans that it is time to chart a new course, to focus on the things that matter."
"For throughout its life, the EU has done the reverse: it has used economic means for political ends."
'Head-banging''Head-banging'
Mr Hoon said Mr Cameron had already confirmed he would "deny British workers the rights their European counterparts enjoy through the Social Chapter". He will expand on what he thinks the EU's priorities should be - as he puts it, the "three Gs" of globalisation, global warming and global poverty.
He had also "pursued his commitment to withdraw Tory MEPs from the main centre-right grouping in the European Parliament, a move described by Ken Clarke as 'head-banging'," Mr Hoon added. He will also reaffirm his commitment to a referendum on the European Constitution, claiming Labour has had "seven different positions" on the issue.
"This commitment would reduce Britain's influence in Europe and hamper the ability to work with European partners in, for example, negotiating new agreements to tackle climate change. "I've only ever had one. I'm against a European Constitution and I'm in favour of a referendum if one is ever proposed," he will say.
"Unless David Cameron now names which other parties he has persuaded to sign up to his new group, his speech will be seen as nothing more than warm words." Europe minister Geoff Hoon said Mr Cameron's pledge to withdraw from the EPP - a move he said was described senior Tory MP Ken Clarke as "head-banging" - would reduce Britain's influence in Europe.
'Tory mantra' "Unless David Cameron now names which other parties he has persuaded to sign up to his new group, his speech will be seen as nothing more than warm words," he added.
'Tough'
Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Michael Moore said Mr Cameron had isolated his party from Europe because he refused to accept the reality that European countries had to work with each other.Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Michael Moore said Mr Cameron had isolated his party from Europe because he refused to accept the reality that European countries had to work with each other.
"The Conservatives have at least taken one step in the right direction by recognising the need to rebalance our foreign policy; perhaps sometime soon they will recognise the importance of our special relationship with Europe," he said. UKIP said Mr Cameron had won his party's leadership contest by promising to be "tough" on Europe in order to attract eurosceptic supporters but had since let them down.
But UKIP said Mr Cameron had won his party's leadership contest by promising to be "tough" on Europe in order to attract eurosceptic supporters but had failed to deliver on his promise. Commenting on Mr Cameron's speech, UKIP leader Nigel Farage said: "He will be trotting out that old Tory mantra of 'in Europe, but not run by Europe' when we all know that this is not possible. If you're in Europe, then you're run by Europe.
UKIP leader Nigel Farage said: "He will be trotting out that old Tory mantra: 'In Europe, but not run by Europe.' when we all know that this is not possible. If you're in Europe, then you're run by Europe.
"This is the same Mr Cameron who deliberately misled not just his party, but the public, with a vow to withdraw Britain from the Social Chapter, when he knows full well that this is not possible unless Britain withdraws from the European Union.""This is the same Mr Cameron who deliberately misled not just his party, but the public, with a vow to withdraw Britain from the Social Chapter, when he knows full well that this is not possible unless Britain withdraws from the European Union."