This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25740462

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
George Osborne 'reform or decline' warning to EU George Osborne 'reform or decline' warning to EU
(about 3 hours later)
The European Union is falling behind India and China and must reform if it wants to halt the decline, George Osborne is to warn.The European Union is falling behind India and China and must reform if it wants to halt the decline, George Osborne is to warn.
In a speech the chancellor will point to the continent's spending on welfare and its "competitiveness problem".In a speech the chancellor will point to the continent's spending on welfare and its "competitiveness problem".
"We can't go on like this," he is due to say at a conference organised by two eurosceptic groups. "We can't go on like this," he is due to say at a conference organised by two Eurosceptic groups.
It comes after the Tory leadership rejected a call from 95 of its MPs to allow Parliament to block EU laws. It follows the Conservative leadership rejecting a call from 95 of its MPs to allow Parliament to block EU laws.
Earlier this week William Hague the foreign secretary said the European Union's rules had to be followed by all its members and the backbenchers' plan was unworkable. Earlier this week Foreign Secretary William Hague said the European Union's rules had to be followed by all its members and the backbenchers' plan was unworkable.
'Simple choice''Simple choice'
But addressing eurosceptic think tank Open Europe and the Fresh Start group of MPs set up by Tories keen to see reform, Mr Osborne will say he understands the need for change. But addressing the think tank Open Europe and the Fresh Start group of MPs, set up by Conservatives keen to see reform, Mr Osborne will say he understands the need for change.
"The biggest economic risk facing Europe doesn't come from those who want reform and renegotiation," he will say."The biggest economic risk facing Europe doesn't come from those who want reform and renegotiation," he will say.
"It comes from a failure to reform and renegotiate. "It comes from a failure to reform and renegotiate. It is the status quo which condemns the people of Europe to an ongoing economic crisis and continuing decline."
"It is the status quo which condemns the people of Europe to an ongoing economic crisis and continuing decline. Mr Osborne will argue there is a "simple choice for Europe: reform or decline".
He will argue there is a "simple choice for Europe: reform or decline".
'Power shifting''Power shifting'
The chancellor is also expected to repeat the Conservatives' pledge to hold an in-out referendum on the UK's membership of the EU in 2017 should they win the next election.The chancellor is also expected to repeat the Conservatives' pledge to hold an in-out referendum on the UK's membership of the EU in 2017 should they win the next election.
And he will talk about how the 2008 financial crisis exacerbated the EU's problems.And he will talk about how the 2008 financial crisis exacerbated the EU's problems.
"We knew there was a competitiveness problem in Europe before the crisis," he will say."We knew there was a competitiveness problem in Europe before the crisis," he will say.
"But the crisis has dramatically accelerated the shifts in the tectonic economic plates that see power moving eastwards and southwards on our planet.""But the crisis has dramatically accelerated the shifts in the tectonic economic plates that see power moving eastwards and southwards on our planet."
In a sign he believes spending on social security is too high not just in the UK but across Europe, he will claim: "Europe accounts for just over 7% of the world's population, 25% of its economy, and 50% of global social welfare spending."In a sign he believes spending on social security is too high not just in the UK but across Europe, he will claim: "Europe accounts for just over 7% of the world's population, 25% of its economy, and 50% of global social welfare spending."
Echoing the Tories' 2010 election campaign slogan he will say: "We can't go on like this." Echoing the Conservatives' 2010 election campaign slogan he will say: "We can't go on like this."