Italian PM tells Cameron Britain should have a referendum on leaving the EU

1. 
   Britain should vote on leaving EU, Italian prime minister Mario Monti says
   

David Cameron should ask the British people if they want to stay in the European Union, Italy's prime minister has said.
























Nick Squires in Rome and James Kirkup

12:21PM GMT 27 Nov 2012

1135 Comments




Mario Monti said he had told Mr Cameron in person that he must resolve “the fundamental question" over Britain's future: “Do you want to remain in the European Union or not?”


He also suggested that some European politicians, especially in France, would like Britain to leave the union.


Mr Monti is the second European leader in recent weeks to suggest publicly that Britain’s EU membership is now in doubt.


Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, told MEPs earlier this month that Britain could be left “alone in the world” if it leaves the EU.


The remarks from EU leaders will add to the pressure on Mr Cameron to give a clear statement about his policy on Britain’s EU membership.



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Should Britain hold a referendum on the EU?
Yes, it is a fundamental question
No, Britain will never leave


VoteView Results









A growing number of Conservatives, including Cabinet ministers, have said Britain should be willing to consider withdrawal. The Prime Minister has said he backs membership for now, but has not ruled out leaving.

Speaking on a late-night Italian chat show earlier this week, Mr Monti said that uncertainty about Britain's position is a concern.

“There is a problem with Great Britain,” Mr Monti said. “I am among those people who say that we need to keep Britain within the European Union.

“It is in the interests of Britain to remain in the EU and it is in the interests of the EU that Britain remains.

He added: “In Europe there are some who would feel that their heart would be lighter if Great Britain left the union. I believe some of the French share this view. I am convinced that we must find a compromise with the British.”

Mr Cameron visited Rome earlier this month. Mr Monti said he had told the Prime Minister to clarify Britain’s European position.

“Above all, the British – I spoke with David Cameron about this last week – must ask their electorate, not whether they agree or disagree on the latest change that other European countries want to adopt...but pose a fundamental question: do you want to remain in the European Union or not?”

Mr Monti, sometimes seen as sympathetic to Britain in EU negotiations said there were three important areas in which Britain’s contribution to the EU was important – the economy, foreign relations and, “one day”, defence policy.

“But the English manage to be quite exasperating when they ask, as a condition for remaining aboard this great European ship, particular exceptions, particular dispensations, that could amount to making holes in the ship and making it sail less well, if not sink altogether."

One of the comments, over 1,000 so far.



rantingmrp

44 minutes ago




1. All indications are that the British people want to leave the EU. The power-grab by Brussels and its repeated intrusions in issues that are the prerogative of nation-states mean that the longer a country stays in the EU, the more sovereignty it loses.
2. It is obvious that the British government will fall if it doesn't agree to a referendum on continued membership of the EU.
3. It is also clear that Britain is unprepared to leave the EU - both politically and economically, but especially militarily.
4. It's a shame that Britain's current leaders have such a poor grasp of history, to the point where they have emasculated the British armed forces such Britain has to rely on France for many military requirements.
5. Mrs Thatcher was right: a newly-dominant Germany is running the EU and its evil core, the Eurozone, and is systematically destroying democracy (as Czech president Vaclav Klaus said on Sky News recently) across Europe. In the end, war will be inevitable - but the British, unless they leave the EU now and re-activate their trading and military links with The Commonwealth, will caught completely unprepared.
Leave while you can.