PM David Cameron's EU Speech Got Mixed Reactions Among Leaders and Constituents

Online, February 1, 2013 (Newswire.com) - In his speech delivered in London, instead of Amsterdam as what was previously planned, Cameron said he thought to renegotiate the terms and conditions behind United Kingdom's membership with the EU, as he seeks something of what he called as "a more flexible, adaptable, and open European Union". He wants to put that changed membership package to the British people through an in-out referendum over the next general election in 2017. Consequently, this plan will depend if the Conservative Party wins majority during the 2015 polls.

Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany said that she would listen to Mr Cameron's thoughts about EU but was keen to saying that a compromise should be met. "Germany, and I personally, would like Britain to be an important part and an active member of the EU," Merkel said.

The French Foreign Minister, Laurent Fabius was critical, saying that Cameron's referendum promise was "dangerous" and he should not expect Europe to be "a la carte", or expect to change the rules of membership just for the sake of the UK. Fabius also added that France will welcome businesses that leave the UK, should it decide to leave the EU.

Even the PM's Deputy, Nick Clegg, has opposing thoughts regarding Cameron's plans.

Clegg, a leader of the Liberal Democrat Party, which happens to be the junior partner of the Conservative Party, has criticised the PM in his referendum announcement. In an interview, he said that "years and years of a protracted, ill-defined renegotiation of our place in Europe is not in the national interest. It will hit growth and it will hit jobs".

The speech was intended to be delivered before Christmas. The timing of its delivery is viewed to be in response to the clash between the PM and the House of Commons' Ed Miliband, the leader of the main opposition party. He is remembered to criticise Mr. Cameron for opposing an in-out referendum back in 2011.

Even former British Prime Minister Tony Blair said that the current PM's plan is a mistake. "Why would you want to say here is the prospect of Britain leaving the EU when surely the sensible thing is to band together with allies in order to argue the case for change," said Blair in a radio interview.

David Cameron said that it is not his intention for the UK to leave the European Union. However, during a recent radio interview with BBC, he said that Britain is not going to collapse even if it is not part of the Union. "You could choose a different path. The question is, what is in our national interest? I've always been very clear it's in our national interest as a trading nation to be in the single market," the Prime Minister said.