David Cameron addresses World Economic Forum
(24 Jan 2013) 1. Wide of British Prime Minister David Cameron taking stage 2. Mid of Cameron shaking hands with World Economic Forum founder, Klaus Schwab 3. Mid cutaway of crowd 4. SOUNDBITE (English) David Cameron, British Prime Minister: ++INCLUDES WIDE OF CAMERON++ "If you mean that Europe has to become a political union in that it should become more like a country called Europe, I don't agree. I think that countries in Europe have their histories, their traditions, their institutions, want their own sovereignty, their decision to make...their ability to make their own choices, and to try and shoehorn countries into a centralised political union would be a great mistake for Europe and Britain wouldn't be part of it. But if you mean in Europe we should have greater political will to work together to get things done, yes, I am all up for it." 5. Wide of Cameron on stage 6. Mid cutaway of crowd 7. SOUNDBITE (English) David Cameron, British Prime Minister: "But I think we need to explain that it political will is what matters, rather than the the endless process of building new and more centralised political institutions that our people simply don't want to give their consent for, that is the challenge. I would say Britain is a major European player on all of the issues where Europe needs to act, being more competitive, fighting terrorism, combating climate change, we are right out there leading the arguments, making the arguments, and that is the sort of political action that we need. But a centralised political union, not for me, not for Britain, thank you very much." 8. Wide of Cameron on stage and shaking hands and leaving 9. Close of Cameron on stage and shaking hands and leaving 10. Wide of empty stage and people leaving STORYLINE: Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron says Europe needs its borders, and forcing individual countries into a single entity would be a "great mistake." Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in the Swiss resort of Davos on Thursday, Cameron said he wants nothing to do with a "country called Europe." Cameron shook up Europe's political landscape this week by offering to let British citizens vote on whether to leave the 27-nation European Union. On Thursday he told the WEF meeting that he did not think that Europe should pursue a political union that would make it more like one single country. "I think that countries in Europe have their histories, their traditions, their institutions, want their own sovereignty," he said "to try and shoehorn countries into a centralised political union would be a great mistake for Europe and Britain wouldn't be part of it. But if you mean in Europe we should have greater political will to work together to get things done, yes, I am all up for it." Other European leaders accuse Cameron of putting the bloc's future at risk over domestic politics. Cameron argues that EU cooperation is good but that the British people do not want expanded EU political union. "We need to explain that it is political will, rather than the the endless process of building new and more centralised political institutions that our people simply don't want to give their consent for," said Cameron. Many European politicians, particularly those in the 17 countries that use the euro, think closer political ties are needed. Some even think something resembling the United States should be Europe's end-game. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
