Barroso puts case for EU reforms

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European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso has told the Liberal Democrat conference that the European Union "is not full of hidden plots".

Mr Barroso, who got a standing ovation, said the EU Reform Treaty would be good for, and should be adopted by, the UK.

The Tories and a number of MPs from all parties want a referendum on the treaty but Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell opposes such a poll being held.

Mr Barroso said he hoped to be able to move "swiftly to ratification".

Mr Barroso acknowledged that speaking about Europe in Britain was "not easy", saying Europe was seen as "remote".

"We collectively need to demonstrate more concretely the benefits that membership of the European Union brings, that there's more to Europe than late night horse trading, that we are tackling the issues that matter to Europe's citizens," he said.

'Opportunity not threat'

He told the conference: "I strongly believe that the Reform Treaty is good for Europe and good for Britain.

"The treaty, including the hard-fought UK red lines, is not the constitution. I now hope that we can reach agreement in October and move swiftly to ratification."

Mr Barroso added: "Europe is not full of hidden plots. The more the UK leads the debate, the more you will get out of Europe. Europe is an opportunity not a threat."

He also said the EU would be good for the UK in a globalised world, outlining proposals for "fairer, more open energy markets" with "tough conditions on ownership of assets by non-EU companies".

"We can be open, but we mustn't be naive," he said.

The Government promised a referendum on the EU Constitution, which was abandoned after French and Dutch voters rejected it.

Councillors

But they have resisted calls to hold a referendum on the treaty saying it is not a constitution - although critics say is almost identical to the scrapped document.

Sir Menzies, whose party is the most pro-EU of the three main UK parties, has rejected calls for a referendum on the treaty but has backed a referendum on whether the UK should remain in the European Union.

But other Lib Dems continue to push for a referendum on the treaty - Portsmouth South MP Mike Hancock organised an open letter signed by 34 councillors calling for one.

He said: "This letter reflects much wider feeling in the party.

"Many people in the grass roots of the party think we should be putting pressure on the Government to keep its promise and hold a referendum on the Constitutional Treaty."