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Roundup: UK, Polish PMs discuss EU reform in Warsaw

Xinhua, May 29, 2015 Adjust font size:

Polish Prime Minister, Ewa Kopacz, and her British counterpart, David Cameron, discussed the European Union (EU)'s reform prospects on Friday, in light of Britain's promised referendum on whether or not to remain in the EU.

Prior to the recent British parliamentary election, Cameron promised the electorate an "in or out" referendum on Britain's EU membership before the end of 2017. Meanwhile, Cameron is working to bring about the necessary EU reforms that would keep Britain in the European bloc.

Kopacz, for her part, ensured that Poland hoped the UK would continue to be an EU member, as "European Union would be much weaker without Britain."

Regarding EU laws, Poland agreed with Britain that "withdrawing from directives which do not bring any positive value" were important. Poland was also in alignment with Britain's perspective on strengthening national parliaments' meaning and role.

The discussion over matters of security, unitary market and increasing UK competitiveness further showed that both countries shared the same point of view. As far as immigration matters were concerned, in view of Cameron's future plans to change the social security system, Kopacz underlined that no solutions discriminating people of Polish nationality would be accepted.

Cameron and Kopacz similarly discussed the situation in Ukraine, and relations with the Russian Federation.

Following the Queen's Speech earlier this week, Cameron began a series of meetings with the leaders of the EU member states, in the hopes they would support his plan on EU reforms.

On Thursday, Cameron met with the Prime Minister of The Netherlands, Mark Rutte, and French President Francois Hollande. On Friday, after meeting with Kopacz, Cameron headed for Berlin where he was scheduled to meet with Chancellor Angela Merkel. Endit