Hundreds of migrants rescued off the coast of the Canary Islands    Trump imposes 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum    Saudi Arabia moves to ban sale of tobacco in kiosks and grocery stores    HONOR brings together AI and luxury with PORSCHE DESIGN HONOR Magic7 RSR at LEAP 2025    GASTAT: Industrial Production Index records an increase of 2.1% in December 2024    Saudi Arabia contributes to preparing first international report on AI safety    Investments of over $7.5bn announced on second day of LEAP 2025    Virtual Enforcement Court streamlines 400000 applications for enforcement in 2024    7th batch of 360 female recruits graduated    Saudi Arabia tops G20 countries in Safety Index    Ed Sheeran stopped from busking in Bengaluru by Indian police    Eagles win Super Bowl LIX to end the Chiefs' dream of a three-peat    Trump says he will announce raft of new trade tariffs    Indian security forces kill 31 Maoist rebels    Chinese film stirs national pride, rakes in $1bn in days    Saudi, Ukrainian FMs discuss Ukrainian-Russian crisis in phone call    Trump rules out deporting Prince Harry, cites marital troubles as reason for leniency    Sharifa Al-Sudairi makes historic debut at Asian Winter Games    Ivan Toney's brace secures Al Ahli victory over Al Fateh in Saudi Pro League    Al Nassr reclaims third place with 3-0 victory over Al Fayha as Jhon Durán shines    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Britain's Osborne spells out mandate on EU referendum
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 13 - 05 - 2015

BRUSSELS — Emboldened by his party's election triumph, Britain's finance minister insisted on Tuesday that his government has a “very clear mandate” to change the terms of the country's membership in the European Union before it holds a referendum on whether the leave the bloc altogether.
The Conservatives' promise to hold an in/out referendum by 2017 was a key plank of their manifesto in the general election last week. The party's top brass, including Prime Minister David Cameron, have suggested they would only support continued EU membership if the country can change terms related to its membership.
“We go into these negotiations aiming to be constructive and engaged but also resolute and firm, and no one should underestimate our determination to succeed for the working people of Britain and indeed for the working people of the European Union,” finance chief George Osborne said Tuesday ahead of a meeting of his finance ministers peers from the 28-country EU in Brussels.
Osborne, who is set to be one of the lead negotiators, refused to address growing speculation that the referendum may be brought forward a year to 2016. Many in his party and in the business community think the referendum should take place earlier than planned because it would reduce uncertainty and won't clash with elections in Germany and France.
He said the aim is to “improve Britain's relationship with the rest of the EU and to reform the EU so it creates jobs and increases living standards for all its citizens.”
Though details of what the Conservatives want are sketchy, the party noted in its manifesto that it's looking to control migration from the EU by reforming welfare rules.
“Instead of something-for-nothing, we will build a system based on the principle of something-for-something,” the party said. “We will then put these changes to the British people in a straight in-out referendum on our membership of the European Union by the end of 2017.”
Many top officials across the EU, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, have insisted that the principle of the free movement of labor across the bloc is non-negotiable. However, some have been more forthcoming on the idea of changing the way welfare payments are made to migrants. Early indications are that Osborne isn't going to find it easy to push through reforms, especially if they are so big that they require changes to the EU's treaty.
Austria's Finance Minister Hans Joerg Schelling didn't appear impressed by the referendum pledge.
“I think politicians must decide and act,” he said. “And if politicians believe they have to ask the people, that indicates that they are not prepared to take the necessary consequences and decisions.”
Since it joined what was then known as the European Economic Community in 1973, Britain's membership has often been strained. Over the past few years, a groundswell of opinion in the country thinks exiting the EU is the best option for the country, especially at a time when many of its members are getting closer together, notably with the creation of the euro currency. In last week's election, the UK Independence Party, which aims to get Britain out of the EU, won 4 million votes.
The Europe question has troubled the Conservative Party for decades. Splits within the party were notable in the 1990s, when many EU countries were preparing for the euro, and contributed to its spell in opposition between 1997 and 2010. Many think Cameron has opted for a referendum to shore up his party, which is still divided over the merits of Britain's membership. — AP


Clic here to read the story from its source.