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UK seeks allies for EU reforms without treaty change UK seeks allies for EU reforms without treaty change
(about 14 hours later)
The UK government hopes to achieve some "important reforms" in the EU without going as far as treaty change, the UK's Europe Minister David Lidington says.The UK government hopes to achieve some "important reforms" in the EU without going as far as treaty change, the UK's Europe Minister David Lidington says.
"I am optimistic that we can win support from other countries," he said."I am optimistic that we can win support from other countries," he said.
Among those reforms would be creating a fully functioning single market for services and a bigger role for national parliaments in EU affairs, he said.Among those reforms would be creating a fully functioning single market for services and a bigger role for national parliaments in EU affairs, he said.
On the question of reform "it's a caricature to portray us as isolated," he told reporters in London.On the question of reform "it's a caricature to portray us as isolated," he told reporters in London.
He was presenting the Conservatives' ideas for a new UK "settlement" with the EU, at a briefing organised by the Association of European Journalists (AEJ).He was presenting the Conservatives' ideas for a new UK "settlement" with the EU, at a briefing organised by the Association of European Journalists (AEJ).
Treaty change is a thorny issue for European politicians. The Lisbon Treaty took nearly a decade to negotiate, and repeatedly referendums have seen voters reject EU plans.Treaty change is a thorny issue for European politicians. The Lisbon Treaty took nearly a decade to negotiate, and repeatedly referendums have seen voters reject EU plans.
EU social and employment policy has long been seen as an area where Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservatives would like to repatriate powers to the UK.EU social and employment policy has long been seen as an area where Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservatives would like to repatriate powers to the UK.
Conservatives argue that businesses and public services are overburdened with EU employment regulations, such as the Working Time Directive.Conservatives argue that businesses and public services are overburdened with EU employment regulations, such as the Working Time Directive.
But Mr Lidington said that "on social Europe we haven't been putting forward the opt-out" because the Liberal Democrats - the Conservatives' coalition partners - "took a different view". "We have to take account of negotiability," he added.But Mr Lidington said that "on social Europe we haven't been putting forward the opt-out" because the Liberal Democrats - the Conservatives' coalition partners - "took a different view". "We have to take account of negotiability," he added.
Pressure for referendumPressure for referendum
In a landmark speech in January, Mr Cameron pledged to renegotiate the terms of the UK's EU membership. He aims to put that new settlement - a looser form of UK membership - to a referendum, if the Conservatives win the 2015 election.In a landmark speech in January, Mr Cameron pledged to renegotiate the terms of the UK's EU membership. He aims to put that new settlement - a looser form of UK membership - to a referendum, if the Conservatives win the 2015 election.
On Friday a bill to guarantee an in/out UK referendum on EU membership by the end of 2017 cleared its first parliamentary hurdle. Support among Conservatives was overwhelming, but the Lib Dems and opposition Labour MPs abstained in the vote, so there is still much uncertainty about the referendum plan.On Friday a bill to guarantee an in/out UK referendum on EU membership by the end of 2017 cleared its first parliamentary hurdle. Support among Conservatives was overwhelming, but the Lib Dems and opposition Labour MPs abstained in the vote, so there is still much uncertainty about the referendum plan.
The Conservatives are conducting a "balance of competences" review - an in-depth study of legislation to find areas where powers could be repatriated from Brussels.The Conservatives are conducting a "balance of competences" review - an in-depth study of legislation to find areas where powers could be repatriated from Brussels.
The Dutch government recently completed its own competences review, saying the time of "ever closer union" in all EU policy areas was over.The Dutch government recently completed its own competences review, saying the time of "ever closer union" in all EU policy areas was over.
Glenis Willmott MEP, leader of the UK Labour group in the European Parliament, expressed surprise at Mr Lidington's comments playing down any UK renegotiation of EU social and employment policy.Glenis Willmott MEP, leader of the UK Labour group in the European Parliament, expressed surprise at Mr Lidington's comments playing down any UK renegotiation of EU social and employment policy.
"I am a little bit baffled - we were never sure how they would do this," she told BBC News, referring to the Conservatives' renegotiation plans."I am a little bit baffled - we were never sure how they would do this," she told BBC News, referring to the Conservatives' renegotiation plans.
The UK is signed up to the EU's Social Chapter, which sets common rules on workers' rights, including paid holidays and time off for pregnancy and maternity care. The UK is signed up to the EU's Social Chapter, which sets common rules on workers' rights, including paid holidays, rest breaks and time off for pregnancy and maternity care.
But the UK has an opt-out on the Working Time Directive, allowing staff to negotiate overtime deals with employers on a voluntary basis. But the UK has a partial opt-out from the Working Time Directive, so staff can negotiate overtime deals with employers on a voluntary basis.
Some European politicians have voiced concern that unpicking EU social legislation could undermine welfare provision, which is more generous in some EU countries than others.Some European politicians have voiced concern that unpicking EU social legislation could undermine welfare provision, which is more generous in some EU countries than others.
Some argue that removing such protections for workers in one EU country would be unfair, threatening a "race to the bottom" which would hurt high-welfare countries such as Sweden and Denmark.Some argue that removing such protections for workers in one EU country would be unfair, threatening a "race to the bottom" which would hurt high-welfare countries such as Sweden and Denmark.
Anxiety about migrantsAnxiety about migrants
Ms Willmott said she had encountered much concern about immigration among UK voters, with worries about migrant EU workers undermining their rights by accepting low wages and poor conditions.Ms Willmott said she had encountered much concern about immigration among UK voters, with worries about migrant EU workers undermining their rights by accepting low wages and poor conditions.
"We are clear that if we have stronger legislation, enforced properly, it might help to resolve those problems. The Posted Workers Directive needs to be strengthened, so that there aren't loopholes," she said."We are clear that if we have stronger legislation, enforced properly, it might help to resolve those problems. The Posted Workers Directive needs to be strengthened, so that there aren't loopholes," she said.
The directive has tested the EU single market because of tensions over temporary workers. In some cases enterprises have brought in staff from another EU country under different terms from those prevailing locally.The directive has tested the EU single market because of tensions over temporary workers. In some cases enterprises have brought in staff from another EU country under different terms from those prevailing locally.
Mr Lidington said that "many important reforms can be achieved which don't need treaty change" and Mr Cameron was "pressing ahead with that".Mr Lidington said that "many important reforms can be achieved which don't need treaty change" and Mr Cameron was "pressing ahead with that".
The UK was especially keen to create a strong EU single market in services, he said, calling it "woefully underdeveloped". Many national barriers still exist in the energy, transport and digital market sectors.The UK was especially keen to create a strong EU single market in services, he said, calling it "woefully underdeveloped". Many national barriers still exist in the energy, transport and digital market sectors.
"But at some stage in the next few years it will not only be necessary to reopen the treaties, but other countries will want to do so too," Mr Lidington said."But at some stage in the next few years it will not only be necessary to reopen the treaties, but other countries will want to do so too," Mr Lidington said.
Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel and the German Constitutional Court have indicated that fundamental eurozone integration will require EU treaty changes, for example to set up a joint finance ministry or separate eurozone budget. That has been acknowledged too by European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel and the German Constitutional Court have indicated that fundamental eurozone integration will require EU treaty changes, for example to set up a joint finance ministry or separate eurozone budget. That has been acknowledged too by European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.
Ms Willmott echoed Mr Lidington's point that the UK has European allies on certain issues like reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), channelling more of the EU budget into innovation and research and boosting the single market. The Dutch and Scandinavians in particular are seen as close to UK positions on those issues.Ms Willmott echoed Mr Lidington's point that the UK has European allies on certain issues like reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), channelling more of the EU budget into innovation and research and boosting the single market. The Dutch and Scandinavians in particular are seen as close to UK positions on those issues.
But Ms Willmott criticised the Conservatives' call for an in/out referendum on EU membership.But Ms Willmott criticised the Conservatives' call for an in/out referendum on EU membership.
"We work with those people [in the EU] to change what we don't like, but not with one arm on the exit door. So much resentment is built up because of that attitude, it has caused quite a few problems," she said."We work with those people [in the EU] to change what we don't like, but not with one arm on the exit door. So much resentment is built up because of that attitude, it has caused quite a few problems," she said.