10/01/2013

US Urges UK To Remain In EU

The US government has urged the UK not to sever its ties with the European Union, as David Cameron prepares for a speech in which he is expected to announce a referendum on a new deal for Britain in the EU.

The Obama administration has warned of the dangers of holding a referendum on Britain's membership of the EU.

In a statement, US assistant secretary for European affairs Phillip Gordon said: "We welcome an outward-looking European Union with Britain in it. We benefit when the EU is unified, speaking with a single voice, and focused on our shared interests around the world and in Europe.

He added: "We want to see a strong British voice in that European Union. That is in the American interest."

But he continued: "It would be fair to say that every hour at an EU summit spent debating the institutional makeup of the European Union is one less hour spent talking about how we can solve our common challenges of jobs, growth, and international peace around the world."

It is thought that David Cameron will announce in his speech that, if elected with a majority in 2015, he will use an EU treaty revision to underpin new eurozone governance arrangements to repatriate some powers.

A No 10 spokesperson said in a statement: "The US wants an outward looking EU with Britain in it, and so do we."

(IT)

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