EU won't be the same without Britain, says Asselborn

(CS) Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn at a conference on Thursday said that he “cannot imagine” the UK without the EU and vice-versa, saying he hopes solutions will be found during the upcoming presidency.

Speaking at a pre-EU presidency conference, Asselborn said that with the Conservative party having secured an absolute majority in the UK, the country is also expected to vote on its future in the EU by the end of 2017.

However, David Cameron has previously said he would support the UK remaining in the union, should the latter be willing to carry out a number of reforms.

“We will listen attentively to the proposals by the British government and I am convinced that there is much common ground to find solutions,” he said, adding however that there are certain achievements that are non-negotiable.

“I sincerely hope that the referendum will have a positive outcome and that the United Kingdom will remain with us,” the Foreign Minister said. “The Luxembourg presidency is ready to contribute to this goal.”

Asselborn added: “I cannot image the United Kingdom without the union. And the union without the United Kingdom will no longer be the same.”

The citizen at the heart of Europe

Elsewhere in his speech, Asselborn said that the EU presidency, the 12th hosted by Luxembourg, will be a “real opportunity” for the country to show its dedication to the European project. “It allows us to share our expertise and know-how.”

He also said that Luxembourg would be able to put to good use its qualities as a builder of bridges, “the capacity to reconcile different positions and traditions, as well as the will to invest in the search for compromise.”

Migration, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership with the US, the so-called Juncker investment plan, the single market, industry, research and innovation, European competitiveness, the role of the EU in the world, fiscal policy, sustainable development, data protection, the fight against terrorism, the Greek crisis and a number of other issues were listed by Asselborn as being on the agenda for the presidency.

Most of all, however, he said that the European Union needs to be brought closer to the people against it and that social goals need to be pursued. Luxembourg will work to “put the citizen at the heart of the European project,” he said. “More than ever, it is important that the real and direct interests of the citizens are taken into account in all EU policies."