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PM tells EC president Britons 'unhappy with status quo' PM tells EC president Britons 'unhappy with status quo'
(about 9 hours later)
David Cameron has told European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker that "British people are not happy with the status quo" in Europe.David Cameron has told European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker that "British people are not happy with the status quo" in Europe.
The prime minister hosted Mr Juncker at Chequers at the start of a week of efforts to renegotiate Britain's EU membership. The prime minister hosted Mr Juncker at Chequers ahead of a week of efforts to renegotiate Britain's EU membership.
The EC president "reiterated that he wanted to find a fair deal for the UK", said a No 10 spokesman after the talks.The EC president "reiterated that he wanted to find a fair deal for the UK", said a No 10 spokesman after the talks.
The PM has promised to hold an "in-out" referendum by the end of 2017. The meeting came as reports suggest France and Germany are planning to announce further eurozone integration.
French newspaper Le Monde is reporting that the two countries have agreed a deal to bring about closer political union between eurozone countries without the need for changes to the treaties which govern the EU.
Earlier, No 10 confirmed UK-based citizens from most EU countries would not get a vote. The eligibility rules will be broadly the same as for a general election, rather than for local or European polls.Earlier, No 10 confirmed UK-based citizens from most EU countries would not get a vote. The eligibility rules will be broadly the same as for a general election, rather than for local or European polls.
Mr Cameron has promised to hold an "in-out" referendum by the end of 2017.
'Fair deal''Fair deal'
The talks between Mr Cameron and Mr Juncker on Monday had focused on "reforming the EU and renegotiating the UK's relationship with it", the No 10 spokesman said. The talks between Mr Cameron and Mr Juncker on Monday focused on "reforming the EU and renegotiating the UK's relationship with it", the No 10 spokesman said.
"The prime minister underlined that the British people are not happy with the status quo and believe that the EU needs to change in order to better address their concerns," the spokesman said. "The prime minister underlined that the British people are not happy with the status quo and believe that the EU needs to change in order to better address their concerns.
"Mr Juncker reiterated that he wanted to find a fair deal for the UK and would seek to help."Mr Juncker reiterated that he wanted to find a fair deal for the UK and would seek to help.
"They talked through the issue at some length in the spirit of finding solutions to these problems. "They talked through the issue at some length in the spirit of finding solutions to these problems. They agreed that more discussion would be needed, including with other leaders, on the best way forward."
"They agreed that more discussion would be needed, including with other leaders, on the best way forward."
The men also discussed the Greek economic situation, as well as Ukraine and sanctions against Russia, Downing Street added.The men also discussed the Greek economic situation, as well as Ukraine and sanctions against Russia, Downing Street added.
Eurosceptics from within Mr Cameron's own party and outside it have suggested significant renegotiation could be impossible without treaty change, but Mr Juncker has made clear his opposition to any such change.
'Worthless'
One senior Conservative backbencher, Bernard Jenkin, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the Le Monde leak "went to the heart" of what the prime minister's promised renegotiation was about.
"What is the relationship that the UK is going to have with our European partners, given that most of our European partners want to be in the eurozone and carry on with the process of integration?" he asked.
"The treaties aren't designed to allow different states to do different things. It is all assumed that we will all be involved with integration."
UKIP MP Douglas Carswell said before the meeting that the prime minister's promised renegotiation would be "more or less worthless".UKIP MP Douglas Carswell said before the meeting that the prime minister's promised renegotiation would be "more or less worthless".
He added: "We now know he's not seeking treaty change and none of the new deal that he is looking for will apply specifically to Britain... none of it is going to fundamentally change our relationship with Europe."He added: "We now know he's not seeking treaty change and none of the new deal that he is looking for will apply specifically to Britain... none of it is going to fundamentally change our relationship with Europe."
Over the coming days, Mr Cameron will travel to France, Germany, Denmark, Poland and the Netherlands to hold talks with European leaders.Over the coming days, Mr Cameron will travel to France, Germany, Denmark, Poland and the Netherlands to hold talks with European leaders.
And on Thursday, legislation on the voting eligibility for the referendum will be introduced to Parliament via the EU Referendum Bill.And on Thursday, legislation on the voting eligibility for the referendum will be introduced to Parliament via the EU Referendum Bill.
Earlier, No 10 confirmed UK-based citizens from most EU countries would not get a vote.
Irish citizens in the UK will be eligible, while residents from two other EU nations - Malta and Cyprus - also qualify, along with others from the Commonwealth.
'Big decision''Big decision'
The bill will make clear the franchise will follow broadly the same rules as the general election:The bill will make clear the franchise will follow broadly the same rules as the general election:
A No 10 source said about the franchise: "This is a big decision for our country, one that is about the future of the United Kingdom. That's why we think it's important that it is British, Irish and Commonwealth citizens that are the ones who get to decide."A No 10 source said about the franchise: "This is a big decision for our country, one that is about the future of the United Kingdom. That's why we think it's important that it is British, Irish and Commonwealth citizens that are the ones who get to decide."
Eurosceptics have previously claimed that as many as 1.5 million people from other EU countries could have been allowed to vote in the referendum, if it had taken place under the rules for local government elections.Eurosceptics have previously claimed that as many as 1.5 million people from other EU countries could have been allowed to vote in the referendum, if it had taken place under the rules for local government elections.
EU referendum in focusEU referendum in focus
David Cameron is ready to start renegotiating the terms of Britain's EU membership ahead of a referendum. Here is some further reading on what it all means:David Cameron is ready to start renegotiating the terms of Britain's EU membership ahead of a referendum. Here is some further reading on what it all means:
The UK and the EU: Better off in or out?The UK and the EU: Better off in or out?
What Britain wants from EuropeWhat Britain wants from Europe
Q&A: The UK's planned EU referendumQ&A: The UK's planned EU referendum
Timeline: EU referendum debateTimeline: EU referendum debate
Why Germany is David Cameron's new best friendWhy Germany is David Cameron's new best friend
Former Tory defence secretary Liam Fox, a Eurosceptic, said allowing EU citizens to vote in the referendum "would have been an unacceptable dilution of the voice of the British people".
UKIP leader Nigel Farage said the plans were "sensible and reasonable".
However Humza Yousaf, the SNP's Europe minister in the Scottish Parliament, urged the government to reconsider.
He told BBC News: "Excluding EU citizens, many of whom live here for a number of years, pay their taxes, their children attend local schools, to disenfranchise them over their own future in this vote is illogical, is utterly perverse and creates a democratic deficit."
He added: "We don't want to enter into the rhetoric of division and I think that's exactly what this franchise aims to do."
'Matter of principle'
The party's Westminster leader, Angus Robertson, also called for the voting age to be lowered for the referendum.
He said: "Young people are our future. It is their UK - and their Europe - so they must have their say."
Labour's shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn said his party would try to amend the referendum bill to allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote.
"It's a matter of principle," he said. "If a person aged 16 to 17 is old enough to work and pay taxes - and they are - to marry, to join the armed forces, why should they not be allowed to participate in our democracy?"