Prime Minister David Cameron will make a plea for the "renegotiation" of Britain's relationship with the EU in a keynote speech in the Netherlands later this week, the government in London said Monday.
The much-heralded speech, in which Cameron is expected to ask for a "fresh settlement" between Britain and the EU, will be given on Friday to an audience of business leaders, EU diplomats and other interested parties, a statement said.
Cameron will be in the Netherlands for a meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte who is, however, not expected to attend the speech.
"The prime minister wants to set out his views on the future of the European Union, how it needs to develop and how Britain's relationship with it needs to develop," said Cameron's spokesman.
Asked why Cameron had chosen to make a speech in the Netherlands, he said: "I think giving the speech in a founding member of the European Union, a country that has - not dissimilar to the UK - a
strong global-trading, outward-looking history, is entirely appropriate."
Britain's intention to "redefine" its relations with the EU, which involves the wish to "repatriate powers from Brussels" in justice, policing and other areas, has met with stiff criticism from EU partners, the US and business leaders.
But, in a BBC interview Monday, Cameron defended his ambition.
"Europe is changing and the opportunity for us to lead those changes and make changes that make our relationship with Europe more comfortable ... are absolutely there," said Cameron.
He rejected suggestions that he was initiating a process that could damage Britain's interests. "The debate is happening anyway," said Cameron.
"I'm in favour of our membership of the European Union and I'm optimistic and confident that we can achieve changes in the European Union," he said.
Fellow EU leaders, pro-European business leaders and politicians in Britain have warned Cameron against launching a process that could, intentionally or not, lead to Britain leaving the EU.
But for the Labour Party opposition, spokesman Douglas Alexander said Cameron was not in control of his own party on the issue. He warned of the dangers of Britain "sleepwalking towards exit from
Europe."
EU leaders, fearing that British action could set an unwelcome precedent, have warned that London could not treat EU membership like a menu from which it could "pick and choose" the bits that were to its taste.
In his comments Monday, Cameron was vague on the issue of a British referendum on any possible changes. He said popular consent would only be sought after "fundamental changes" had been agreed.
He rejected the notion of a simple "in-or-out" referendum as "false," and said a referendum would only be held after the next general election in Britain in 2015.
Cameron had initially intended to give the speech next week. But it emerged Monday that his preferred date for the speech, January 22, had met with objections from Berlin and Paris as it marks
the 50th anniversary of the Elysee Treaty, which sealed post-war reconciliation between Germany and France in 1963.
Cameron discussed his plan with French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the weekend, Downing Street said. But, after a "backlash from Berlin" over the proposed date, the speech had been rescheduled, the Financial Times said.