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EU referendum: Osborne visits Paris for two-day talks EU referendum: George Osborne visits Paris for talks
(about 2 hours later)
The chancellor is making the first of a series of trips to key EU capitals, as the government bids to renegotiate the UK's relationship with the union.The chancellor is making the first of a series of trips to key EU capitals, as the government bids to renegotiate the UK's relationship with the union.
George Osborne is meeting officials in Paris for talks, with visits to more cities planned in the next six months.George Osborne is meeting officials in Paris for talks, with visits to more cities planned in the next six months.
A referendum on Britain's EU membership will be held by the end of 2017.A referendum on Britain's EU membership will be held by the end of 2017.
Mr Osborne's visit comes as UK universities launch their campaign for a "Yes" vote, saying EU membership has an "overwhelmingly positive impact".Mr Osborne's visit comes as UK universities launch their campaign for a "Yes" vote, saying EU membership has an "overwhelmingly positive impact".
It also comes amid reports David Cameron is planning to hold the referendum in June next year.It also comes amid reports David Cameron is planning to hold the referendum in June next year.
However Mr Cameron told reporters on his trip to Indonesia that he did not have a referendum date in mind: "When the negotiation is complete then we'll set the date for the referendum."
The PM said technical discussions between the UK and the EU were "proceeding quite well, but they'll be lots of difficulties and problems and road blocks ahead to get the sort I deal I think is necessary. But I'm pleased the technical talks are under way and they'll continue through the summer".
On Sunday night, Mr Osborne had dinner with the French Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron, who has previously said the UK should not be able to cherry-pick aspects of the EU.On Sunday night, Mr Osborne had dinner with the French Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron, who has previously said the UK should not be able to cherry-pick aspects of the EU.
'Prosperity and security''Prosperity and security'
Mr Osborne is to meet French Finance Minister Michel Sapin and Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius later, during which he is expected to acknowledge the process of reform will not be easy.Mr Osborne is to meet French Finance Minister Michel Sapin and Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius later, during which he is expected to acknowledge the process of reform will not be easy.
But he is expected to argue the vote in the UK is an "opportunity" to bring in changes to make Europe more "competitive and dynamic".But he is expected to argue the vote in the UK is an "opportunity" to bring in changes to make Europe more "competitive and dynamic".
Mr Cameron embarked on a similar tour following the Conservatives' victory in the May general election.Mr Cameron embarked on a similar tour following the Conservatives' victory in the May general election.
In Paris, the chancellor is expected to say: "We have been returned to office with a very clear mandate to improve Britain's relationship with the rest of the EU and to reform the EU.In Paris, the chancellor is expected to say: "We have been returned to office with a very clear mandate to improve Britain's relationship with the rest of the EU and to reform the EU.
"I want to see a new settlement for Europe: one that makes it a more competitive and dynamic continent to ensure it delivers prosperity and security for all of the people within it, not just for those in Britain.""I want to see a new settlement for Europe: one that makes it a more competitive and dynamic continent to ensure it delivers prosperity and security for all of the people within it, not just for those in Britain."
He will add: "This government wants the UK to play a leading role within a reformed EU."He will add: "This government wants the UK to play a leading role within a reformed EU."
During the visit, Mr Osborne will also reiterate the strength of Anglo-French ties, launching a new joint taskforce to boost Europe's digital economy.During the visit, Mr Osborne will also reiterate the strength of Anglo-French ties, launching a new joint taskforce to boost Europe's digital economy.
What does renegotiation mean?What does renegotiation mean?
The prime minister has not set out in full detail what he wants but his key demands include:The prime minister has not set out in full detail what he wants but his key demands include:
To get what it wants the UK believes it will need to rewrite treaties agreed by all 28 EU members.To get what it wants the UK believes it will need to rewrite treaties agreed by all 28 EU members.
Q&A: UK's planned EU referendumQ&A: UK's planned EU referendum
Meanwhile, the Universities UK group - whose members include 133 executive heads of UK university institutions - has said it backs Britain's membership of the EU.Meanwhile, the Universities UK group - whose members include 133 executive heads of UK university institutions - has said it backs Britain's membership of the EU.
Vice-chancellors will later launch a "Yes" campaign alongside shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna and pro-European Tory MP and former minister Damian Green.Vice-chancellors will later launch a "Yes" campaign alongside shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna and pro-European Tory MP and former minister Damian Green.
Dame Julia Goodfellow, president of Universities UK, is expected to tell the event in London they must "stand up and be counted".Dame Julia Goodfellow, president of Universities UK, is expected to tell the event in London they must "stand up and be counted".
"It is abundantly clear that the UK's membership of the European Union has an overwhelmingly positive impact on our world-leading universities, enhancing university research and teaching," she will say."It is abundantly clear that the UK's membership of the European Union has an overwhelmingly positive impact on our world-leading universities, enhancing university research and teaching," she will say.
"The case for staying in Europe is about ensuring the future prosperity of the UK, it's about maximising the chances of new discoveries that enhance the society in which we live, it's about the UK's standing in the world, it's about British jobs and it's about opportunities for British people now and in the future.""The case for staying in Europe is about ensuring the future prosperity of the UK, it's about maximising the chances of new discoveries that enhance the society in which we live, it's about the UK's standing in the world, it's about British jobs and it's about opportunities for British people now and in the future."
'Outdated system''Outdated system'
UKIP, which is campaigning for a "No" vote in the referendum, criticised Universities UK for entering the debate.UKIP, which is campaigning for a "No" vote in the referendum, criticised Universities UK for entering the debate.
Deputy leader Paul Nuttall, an MEP and former university lecturer, said: "Given that universities are supposed to be the bastions of open-minded learning, it seems wrong that an institution governing the interests of British education should embroil itself in a political debate that has seen people denied any democratic say whatsoever on how Britain should be governed for 40 years."Deputy leader Paul Nuttall, an MEP and former university lecturer, said: "Given that universities are supposed to be the bastions of open-minded learning, it seems wrong that an institution governing the interests of British education should embroil itself in a political debate that has seen people denied any democratic say whatsoever on how Britain should be governed for 40 years."
He said UK universities would be "far better engaging with European institutions, as they do with those in many other countries around the world, without this meaning being shackled to an outdated political system".He said UK universities would be "far better engaging with European institutions, as they do with those in many other countries around the world, without this meaning being shackled to an outdated political system".
And Conservative eurosceptic John Redwood said attempts to present a Yes vote as the "friendly status quo" were misleading.And Conservative eurosceptic John Redwood said attempts to present a Yes vote as the "friendly status quo" were misleading.
"They aim to run a campaign claiming that... Yes is the risk free option, and that No would mean all sorts of dire futures which they intend to portray by lies and scare stories," he wrote on his blog."They aim to run a campaign claiming that... Yes is the risk free option, and that No would mean all sorts of dire futures which they intend to portray by lies and scare stories," he wrote on his blog.
"The truth is somewhat different....The present EU is a wild ride to political union.... Many voters think the EU should just be a common market, and those who argue for Out will be arguing to leave the Euro and political union which increasingly impinge on us, not to turn our back on trade and friendship with the neighbours.""The truth is somewhat different....The present EU is a wild ride to political union.... Many voters think the EU should just be a common market, and those who argue for Out will be arguing to leave the Euro and political union which increasingly impinge on us, not to turn our back on trade and friendship with the neighbours."