Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.
Barroso LIVE: Outgoing EC president makes Chatham House speech
Downing Street has rejected criticism from the outgoing European Commission president that Britain risks making an "historic mistake" if it leaves the EU.
Jose Manuel Barroso said on Sunday, and repeated the message in a speech in London, that the UK would have "zero" influence if it decided to quit the EU.
But a No 10 source said Mr Barroso should know that the status quo was not acceptable to the UK.
He said Britain needed to negotiate a better deal from the bloc.
The source also played down expectations Mr Cameron would make a major speech on EU immigration soon.
'Historic mistake'Mr Barroso warned at the weekend that the prime minister's hopes of curbing EU immigration could be illegal.
In his speech at think tank Chatham House, he criticised what he said were negative and often false portrayals of the EU in many British newspapers, saying that "it worries me that so few politicians in the UK tell the facts as they actually are".
Continued EU membership, he argued, was in the UK's economic, political and security interest and was also vital for a "united, open and strong Europe".
Mr Barroso said the UK was able to maximise its influence more effectively within the EU, suggesting all EU members "needed a little bit of help from their friends to get by".
He acknowledged that there were "widespread concerns in the UK and elsewhere about abuse of free movement rights".
And he added: "The commission has always been ready to engage constructively in this discussion. But changes to these rules need all countries to agree.
"And it is an illusion to believe that space for dialogue can be created if the tone and substance of the arguments you put forward question the very principle at stake and offend fellow member states."
'Zero influence'"It would be an historic mistake if on these issues Britain were to continue to alienate its natural allies in central and eastern Europe, when you were one of the strongest advocates for their accession," he added.
Mr Barroso rejected suggestions there was "a relentless march towards a superstate" in the EU, saying he believed in a "ever closer union of the peoples of Europe acting as sovereign nations".
He warned against "counter-revolution" within the EU, saying that for countries who "accept the rules of the club there will always be a place and equality of treatment".
The Downing Street source said Mr Cameron would listen to Mr Barroso's argument, but said that Britain needed to negotiate a better deal.
If concerns were addressed, he added, the EU "would be a very suitable place for us".
He also described reports of proposals to cap the amount of national insurance numbers given to EU migrants as "fevered".
Mr Cameron has said the relationship with the EU will be reformed ahead of an in/out referendum, to be held by the end of 2017, if he remains in office after next year's general election.
BBC Europe correspondent Chris Morris said: "As Jose Manuel Barroso prepares to leave the European Commission after 10 years at the helm, he is becoming a little less diplomatic in trying to make the case that Britain and the EU need each other.
Mr Barroso's term of office ends this month and he will be replaced by Jean-Claude Juncker.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Downing Street rejects Barroso claims
Dengan url
http://sarapanoatmeal.blogspot.com/2014/10/downing-street-rejects-barroso-claims.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Downing Street rejects Barroso claims
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Downing Street rejects Barroso claims
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar