Press point by Martin SCHULZ, EP President following his meeting with David CAMERON, Prime Minister of United Kingdom, in the EP in Brussels.

Brussels

referendum on EU membership (T)

EU - United Kingdom (T)

press point

SCHULZ, Martin (S&D, DE)

CAMERON, David (UK)

Extracts from the Press point by Martin SCHULZ, EP President following his meeting with David CAMERON, British Prime Minister

SOUNDBITE (English), Martin SCHULZ, EP President, The EP insists that whatever happens has to be within the frame of the Treaty and no Treaty changes for the time being are possible. We insisted that the debate about some of the elements are for the EP of the highest relevance and we are concerned about some points and we tried to clarify today which are the key elements: no split between Eurozone and non-Eurozone countries.

SOUNDBITE (English), Martin SCHULZ, EP President, No country, especially not the UK, should be discriminated in the single market because of being not a Eurozone country. But the relationship between non-Eurozone countries and the Eurozone countries within the single market has to be based on mutual respect, non-discrimination and in the frame of the Treaty.

SOUNDBITE (English), Martin SCHULZ, EP President, The level playing field in the single market should be ensured, also for banking and financial institutions. We see a clear point that here the UK has the need to clarify what in the single market has to be done for Eurozone and non-Eurozone countries, but we need a clear level playing field and here especially the concerns of the EP are related to the banking union and to the financial institutions.

SOUNDBITE (English), Martin SCHULZ, EP President, An element extremely important for the EP was that future treaty changes are not only related to the specific role of the UK on which is concerning ever closer union, has to be implemented in the future, a treaty change, but that also other elements of the future treaty change are not excluded. So an open formulation means that future treaty changes could be envisaged, but only if it would include some other changes including for example a reinforcement of the economic and monetary union.

SOUNDBITE (English), Martin SCHULZ, EP President, Concerning the welfare credit questions, access to welfare credits and free movement within the European Union the EP is here as a co-legislator of the European Union, strongly involved. I gave to the Prime Minister a clear signal for our commitment in the EP to be as constructive as necessary and as possible.

SOUNDBITE (English), Martin SCHULZ, EP President, But quite clear, I can't give a guarantee for the outcome of a future legislation, nevertheless it's quite understandable that the Prime Minister asked the PE to cooperate as intensively as possible; and that was the assurance I gave to the Prime Minister that we will do the utmost to find a fair deal.

SOUNDBITE (German), Martin SCHULZ, EP President, The European Union has never been in such a dramatic situation as we are facing this week. This week we are discussing upon a necessary compromise with a G7 Country, a country with a right of veto in the UN Security Council, the UK, and we want UK to keep being a Member of the European Union. But it has no sense to obtain this result if the cost is to deconstruct the European Union, that is neither the interest of the UK and that is why today's discussion with David Cameron has been, in my opinion, positive, because Cameron clearly showed that the discussion is about some specific British issues. In no way the point is to weaken the European Union, conversely we want to make the European Union stronger.

Atmosphere shots during the meeting between Prime Minister David Cameron, EP President Martin SCHULZ and leading MEPs on the talks Elmar Brok, Roberto Gualtieri and Guy Verhofstadt. (6 shots)