Cameron says Britain will show "steel" at EU summit talks

Dec 7, 2011, 9:08 GMT

London - Britain warned Wednesday that it would block any proposed changes to EU treaties that would fail to protect its interests, at a crucial EU summit later this week.

Writing in the Times newspaper, Cameron said Britain would take a constructive attitude towards the discussions aimed at ending the crisis in the eurozone, which was a 'priority.'

However, Britain would veto reforms aimed at securing the future of the single currency, if key safeguards were not agreed.

These included measures to protect Britain's financial services, amid fears that the City of London financial centre could be hit hard by a possible transaction tax, and protections for the single market.

Cameron said Britain's demands would be 'practical and focused' - but he would not show a 'lack of steel' to fight for them.

Reflecting British fears that the 17 eurozone countries could agree new rules without the rest of the European Union, Cameron said the most 'credible' way of pushing Europe forward was to involve all 27 members.

Cameron is under strong pressure from Conservative eurosceptics to use the current crisis as an 'opportunity' to redefine Britain's relations with the EU. But he has ruled out calls for a referendum or wholesale renegotiation of EU membership.

Recent apparent moves in Brussels to make treaty alterations without national ratification procedures have also raised alarm bells in Britain, where the European issue has the potential of splitting apart the Conservative-Liberal coalition government.

Read more about EU