'Most bosses' want new deal on EU

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Most UK business bosses want the government to renegotiate membership of the European Union, a survey suggests.

A study of 1,000 chief executives for Open Europe, a think-tank which wants an overhaul of the 25-nation bloc, found 60% favoured a new settlement.

Meanwhile, 54% suggested that EU over-regulation "outweighs" the benefit of a single market.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel says she will try to cut red tape when Germany becomes EU president next year.

'Too much legislation'

The poll, by ICM, suggests businesses - by a margin of 60% to 30% - would support moves to renegotiate existing treaties to reduce the powers of the EU back to a basic free trade area.

Some 52% suggested the organisation was "failing", compared with 36% who said it was "a success".

Open Europe's director, Neil O'Brien, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "There's a feeling that there's too much legislation...

"There's a perception that the costs are outweighing the benefits of the single market."

ICM polled a range of businesses, including a quarter with more than 250 employees and a quarter with four or fewer.

Its findings contrast with a recent survey of 50 chief executives of FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 companies by YouGov.

It found 34 thought the single market had been positive for business and that 39 would prefer Britain to stay in the EU.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso is expected to call for critics not to "sulk from the periphery" in a speech in London on Monday.