Europe

Europe

British PM doubts need for EU treaty change

02 December 2011 23:23 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. British Prime Minister David Cameron on Friday questioned the need to change the EU treaty to overcome the eurozone debt crisis, stressing that any changes would have to be in Britainâ€™s interests, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

Cameron made the remarks after a working lunch with French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris.

A collapse of the eurozone will have a negative impact on British economy, and the Europeans have a need to ensure the success of the next EU summit, scheduled for December 8 and 9, Cameron told the press in the North Station of Paris before boarding a train back to London.

An important step needs to be taken in the capacity of eurozone institutions, such as the European Central Bank (ECB), to resolve the sovereign debt crisis and restore market confidence, said Cameron.

Resolving the debt crisis also requires strengthening the competitiveness of some economies in the eurozone, Cameron added.

But these does not require treaty change, Cameron said, adding that he would ensure that British interests are "safeguarded and enhanced" in case of change of the EU treaty to reform the euro area.

On Thursday and Friday, Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel both called in their respective speeches to get greater integration of fiscal policies among the 17 members of eurozone. France and Germany will submit their proposals on this regard to the next EU summit.