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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| No 10 says no referendum needed for proposed EU changes | No 10 says no referendum needed for proposed EU changes |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| No 10 has said none of the proposed changes being discussed about the future shape of the European Union would trigger a referendum in the UK. | No 10 has said none of the proposed changes being discussed about the future shape of the European Union would trigger a referendum in the UK. |
| Germany and France are developing a plan for greater fiscal integration among the eurozone's 17 members ahead of a crucial meeting on Friday. | Germany and France are developing a plan for greater fiscal integration among the eurozone's 17 members ahead of a crucial meeting on Friday. |
| Many MPs say this would alter relations with the EU and a referendum is needed. | Many MPs say this would alter relations with the EU and a referendum is needed. |
| But Downing Street said it did not meet the test for a vote, which required a major transfer of powers to Brussels. | But Downing Street said it did not meet the test for a vote, which required a major transfer of powers to Brussels. |
| German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met on Monday to discuss a blueprint for the future shape of the eurozone, as well as urgent steps to deal with Europe's financial and economic problems. | |
| 'Not on table' | 'Not on table' |
| The meeting came ahead of a summit of all 27 EU leaders on Friday seen as crucial to supporting the euro and signalling the future direction of the eurozone. | |
| Following the meeting between their two leaders Germany and France said the EU needed a new treaty signed by all EU members, but if that was not possible, signed by the 17 states which have adopted the euro. | |
| While the UK is not a member of the single currency, the prime minister says he will defend the UK's national interests should the eurozone move towards closer fiscal union and budgetary co-operation. | While the UK is not a member of the single currency, the prime minister says he will defend the UK's national interests should the eurozone move towards closer fiscal union and budgetary co-operation. |
| But he is likely to face renewed calls for a referendum on any changes in the UK. Last month, more than 80 Tory MPs defied the government and called for a referendum on the UK's membership of the EU. | But he is likely to face renewed calls for a referendum on any changes in the UK. Last month, more than 80 Tory MPs defied the government and called for a referendum on the UK's membership of the EU. |
| The coalition has said there must be a referendum in the event of a further substantial transfer of powers from Westminster to Brussels but there has been tension between the Conservatives and Lib Dem partners over what would trigger this. | The coalition has said there must be a referendum in the event of a further substantial transfer of powers from Westminster to Brussels but there has been tension between the Conservatives and Lib Dem partners over what would trigger this. |
| Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said on Sunday that a public vote was unlikely because the eurozone changes could be secured without a treaty change, but Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said the public must be consulted in the event of any major treaty change. | Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said on Sunday that a public vote was unlikely because the eurozone changes could be secured without a treaty change, but Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said the public must be consulted in the event of any major treaty change. |
| But No 10 indicated on Monday that a referendum was unlikely under the terms of the "referendum lock" legislation passed by Parliament last year. | But No 10 indicated on Monday that a referendum was unlikely under the terms of the "referendum lock" legislation passed by Parliament last year. |
| "No-one is proposing a 'significant transfer of power from the UK to the EU'," he said. "No-one has put that on the table and I don't think it is likely to be on the table." | "No-one is proposing a 'significant transfer of power from the UK to the EU'," he said. "No-one has put that on the table and I don't think it is likely to be on the table." |
| The measures under consideration were about how the eurozone countries organised and governed themselves, he added. | The measures under consideration were about how the eurozone countries organised and governed themselves, he added. |
| 'New relationship' | 'New relationship' |
| The BBC News Channel's chief political correspondent Norman Smith said this was a "deliberate and definitive" attempt by No 10 to quash any talk of a referendum resulting from current EU talks - which he said would be deeply divisive for the coalition. | The BBC News Channel's chief political correspondent Norman Smith said this was a "deliberate and definitive" attempt by No 10 to quash any talk of a referendum resulting from current EU talks - which he said would be deeply divisive for the coalition. |
| Conservative and Labour MPs seeking a "rebalancing" of the UK's relationship with the EU - including the return of powers to Westminster - are meeting on Monday to discuss their position ahead of Friday's summit. | Conservative and Labour MPs seeking a "rebalancing" of the UK's relationship with the EU - including the return of powers to Westminster - are meeting on Monday to discuss their position ahead of Friday's summit. |
| One of those attending, Tory MP George Eustice, told the BBC: "If there is a new treaty at the level of the 27 EU countries, that is a chance for Britain to strike a new relationship with the EU." | One of those attending, Tory MP George Eustice, told the BBC: "If there is a new treaty at the level of the 27 EU countries, that is a chance for Britain to strike a new relationship with the EU." |
| However, he said it was unlikely that the government would concede sufficient ground to necessitate a referendum. | However, he said it was unlikely that the government would concede sufficient ground to necessitate a referendum. |
| "We are trying to achieve something different which is reverse the flow of powers and take powers back from the EU. I don't think that would require a referendum." | "We are trying to achieve something different which is reverse the flow of powers and take powers back from the EU. I don't think that would require a referendum." |
| Conor Burns, parliamentary private secretary to the Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Paterson, said MPs in government and on the backbenches were urging the prime minister to fulfill the party's election pledge to repatriate powers. | Conor Burns, parliamentary private secretary to the Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Paterson, said MPs in government and on the backbenches were urging the prime minister to fulfill the party's election pledge to repatriate powers. |
| "We should use the opportunity of this treaty change to say to our European partners: 'If you want to go down the route you are going down, please carry on,'" he told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme. "But this is the opportunity, finally, to get the British dog out of the federalist manger." | "We should use the opportunity of this treaty change to say to our European partners: 'If you want to go down the route you are going down, please carry on,'" he told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme. "But this is the opportunity, finally, to get the British dog out of the federalist manger." |
| Financial veto | Financial veto |
| Some MPs are backing a proposal from the Open Europe think-tank for a veto on financial regulation coming out of Brussels which might damage the City of London. | Some MPs are backing a proposal from the Open Europe think-tank for a veto on financial regulation coming out of Brussels which might damage the City of London. |
| In a new report, Open Europe warns that the UK is increasingly losing influence over financial regulation coming out of Brussels, often finding itself outvoted, and that the UK must fight its own corner as the eurozone "pushes its own agenda". | In a new report, Open Europe warns that the UK is increasingly losing influence over financial regulation coming out of Brussels, often finding itself outvoted, and that the UK must fight its own corner as the eurozone "pushes its own agenda". |
| "There is a growing divergence between the UK's economic interests and the slew of regulations coming from Europe," said its director, Mats Persson. | "There is a growing divergence between the UK's economic interests and the slew of regulations coming from Europe," said its director, Mats Persson. |
| "While the eurozone crisis should not be used for political point scoring, David Cameron would be right to use EU treaty changes to ask for an emergency brake to halt regulation that could harm the financial sector and wider economy. | "While the eurozone crisis should not be used for political point scoring, David Cameron would be right to use EU treaty changes to ask for an emergency brake to halt regulation that could harm the financial sector and wider economy. |
| "Clearly financial markets need to be properly regulated, but Mr Cameron must seek safeguards that protect the City of London from growth-destroying measures, enabling it to compete in Europe and, increasingly, across the globe." | "Clearly financial markets need to be properly regulated, but Mr Cameron must seek safeguards that protect the City of London from growth-destroying measures, enabling it to compete in Europe and, increasingly, across the globe." |
| Mr Eustice said the financial veto was "a sensible concession that the UK could realistically get in those negotiations". | Mr Eustice said the financial veto was "a sensible concession that the UK could realistically get in those negotiations". |