Hollande refuses to back EU reforms

French president François Hollande has told David Cameron that France will not make efforts to support proposed EU reforms, while informing the Prime Minister an EU referendum is a “risk”.

The Sunday Telegraph reported that Mr Hollande privately told Mr Cameron that France would not agree to concessions being made by the rest of the EU in order to back Britain’s domestic agenda.

A “high-level French source” also suggested Mr Hollande warned Mr Cameron that he would have to resign, should the British public choose to leave the EU.

The Prime Minister has pledge an in/out EU referendum by the end of 2017 in the light of public pressure. Efforts have been made to renegotiate Britain’s membership, and shift the balance of power to the UK, ahead of the vote. 

Mr Cameron is hoping for the backing of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, but Hollande’s difficult stance has proved troublesome.

Francois Holland had previously made his position clear regarding Britain’s membership, telling 400 journalists at the Élysée Palace in May: “Europe existed before Britain joined it.”

At the three-hour-long press conference the French President added: “I hope Britain stays in the European Union but I don’t want to decide for the British.”

Keumars Afifi-Sabet