British Prime Minister David Cameron planned to deliver an ultimatum to the European Union during a speech that was postponed Friday, warning that Britain may depart from the group if reforms are not made. Cameron’s speech was delayed by a hostage crisis in Algeria involving British citizens. Excerpts from the scheduled address were released on Thursday, outlining Britain’s involvement in the 27-nation European Union going forward.
Cameron’s speech would have focused on three central issues presented to the EU: the region’s debt crisis, a lack of public support in Britain, and a lack of competitiveness globally.
“If we don’t address these challenges, the danger is that Europe will fail and the British people will drift towards the exit,” excerpts of Cameron’s planned speech read. “I do not want that to happen. I want the European Union to be a success and I want a relationship between Britain and the EU that keeps us in it.”
According to the excerpts released by his office, Cameron intended to begin negotiations for Britain to take a reduced role in the union. Additionally, Cameron’s speech suggests that the country will hold a referendum by 2018, giving Britons an option to vote yes or no on the country’s continued membership in the European Union.
“People are increasingly frustrated that decisions taken further and further away from them mean their living standards are slashed through enforced austerity, or their taxes are used to bail out governments on the other side of the continent,” excerpts published by Press Association in Britain read.
American leaders have expressed their desire for Britain to take a larger role in the EU. Last week, Assistant Secretary of State for Europe Philip Gordon told British reporters that the nation’s participation in the union was “essential and critical for the United States.”
