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Cameron to press Hollande over EU at UK-France summit Cameron and Hollande differ over reforms to EU
(about 1 hour later)
Prime Minister David Cameron is expected to press French President Francois Hollande to back reform to the European Union at a UK-France summit. French President Francois Hollande has said the European Union cannot be expected to "follow the example" of one country after talks with David Cameron.
The two men are holding talks on a range of issues, also including defence, energy and science, at the Brize Norton RAF base in Oxfordshire. He described the UK's demands for treaty changes as "not a priority".
Sources said Mr Cameron would urge a "more flexible" EU during the meeting. Mr Cameron wants changes to existing EU treaties by 2017, ahead of a referendum on Britain's membership.
But a source close to Mr Hollande said he was unlikely to back changes to EU treaties to bring this about by 2017. Mr Hollande declined to answer a question about his private life at a joint press conference at RAF Brize Norton.
He recently split from his partner Valerie Trierweiller amid reports he had an affair with another woman.
Mr Hollande said the EU must be more "efficient" but treaty changes were not "urgent" and the focus must be on Europe's economic challenges.
Mr Cameron said he was committed to holding a referendum in 2017.
Mr Cameron's Conservative Party is promising to hold an in-out referendum on the European Union by the end of 2017 if it wins the 2015 general election.Mr Cameron's Conservative Party is promising to hold an in-out referendum on the European Union by the end of 2017 if it wins the 2015 general election.
Before this takes place, the Conservatives want to re-negotiate the UK's membership, returning more powers to the UK in areas such as immigration, welfare and justice. Before this takes place, the Conservatives want to re-negotiate the UK's membership, returning more powers to the UK in areas such as immigration, welfare and justice, which will necessitate changes to EU treaties.
'Optimistic' Speaking at the UK-France summit, Mr Hollande said the UK was entitled to hold a referendum and he hoped the UK would remain within a more "efficient" Europe.
This is unpopular among Mr Hollande's ministers, according to BBC Europe editor Gavin Hewitt, who said: "They will not accept a Europe a la carte, where countries cherry-pick what they like." But he said treaty change would lead to major procedural upheaval and was "not a priority for the time being".
UK officials sought to play down the differences between the two men, holding the first UK-France summit since Mr Hollande became president in 2012, saying: "We have seen over a period of months now increasing recognition around Europe about the need for treaty change. Every country will approach that from their own perspective in the usual way." "We can't expect to follow the example of one country in Europe to determine the rest," he added.
Mr Cameron was "optimistic and takes a very positive approach to the changes that he wants to see", a source added. The prime minister made the argument for greater deregulation within the EU and a change of relationship between Brussels and countries not in the eurozone, including the UK.
The prime minister is expected to make the argument for greater deregulation within the EU and a change of relationship between Brussels and countries not in the eurozone, including the UK. Europe must become more "competitive" and "better address" public concerns, Mr Cameron said, adding that re-negotiation of the UK's membership would "involve some treaty change", he added.
However, a source close to Mr Hollande signalled that it was "very, very unlikely" he would agree to treaty changes by 2017. "Clearly there will be future treaty changes coming," he said. "What people really need to know is that the in-out referendum will happen by the end of 2017. There is no doubt about that."
After Friday's talks, the two leaders will hold a joint press conference and have a working lunch in a local pub. The two leaders also signed agreements on defence, energy and science during the talks and will have working lunch in a local pub.
The news conference will be Mr Hollande's first outside of France since he split with his partner Valerie Trierweiller amid reports he had an affair with another woman.
'Uncertainty''Uncertainty'
The summit follows criticism by both the UK and French governments over the state of the other's economies. The summit follows criticism by both the UK and French governments over the state of the other's economies, with some Conservatives contrasting the stronger growth and falling unemployment in the UK with the sluggish recovery in France and blaming Mr Hollande for pushing up tax rates.
Some Conservatives have contrasted the stronger growth and falling unemployment in the UK with the sluggish recovery in France, blaming Mr Hollande for pushing up tax rates and failing to reform the public sector and suggesting Labour would take the same approach in the UK. Mr Cameron praised the French president recent announcement of cuts to business taxes and employer regulations.
Labour's Chuka Umunna said this was counter-productive. "Tory politicians who have been gloating at France's economic challenges are not only undiplomatic but act against our national interest," he tweeted. In response, Mr Hollande said the two government economic policies were "not exactly the same" but were focused on the same objectives, to boost growth and employment.
The two leaders are also expected to discuss the latest developments in the joint expeditionary force, which will see closer military co-operation between their respective armed forces. On defence, Mr Cameron said the two countries' co-operation was as "close and important" as ever.
By working together, he said the two countries could ensure their defence budgets "go further", their armed forces are better equipped and have more of a "global impact".
Mr Hollande said defence co-operation between London and Paris was "very strong" and highlighted joint military and diplomatic efforts in Libya, Syria and the Central African Republic.
Among a number of defence deals that were signed are a £120m feasibility study for a new armed drone, the Future Air Combat System, and a £500m joint purchase of anti-ship missilesAmong a number of defence deals that were signed are a £120m feasibility study for a new armed drone, the Future Air Combat System, and a £500m joint purchase of anti-ship missiles
It was also announced that the UK will receive two A400M transport planes earlier than expected after swapping a delivery slot for the aircraft with the French.It was also announced that the UK will receive two A400M transport planes earlier than expected after swapping a delivery slot for the aircraft with the French.
A joint memorandum of understanding on nuclear power was also agreed, involving small and medium-sized firms in the nuclear supply chain and co-operation between researchers on both sides of the Channel.A joint memorandum of understanding on nuclear power was also agreed, involving small and medium-sized firms in the nuclear supply chain and co-operation between researchers on both sides of the Channel.
Earlier this year, French firm EDF agreed to lead a consortium to build a new nuclear reactor at Hinkley Point in Somerset, the first new UK reactor in a generation.