UK's Osborne: we want fair EU deal for all, not just for City
LONDON, Oct (HKSE: 3366-OL.HK - news) 22 (Reuters) - Britain is not trying to obtain a special deal for the City of London (LSE: CIN.L - news) as it renegotiates the terms of its European Union membership, but does want a fair deal for all non-euro zone members, finance minister George Osborne said on Thursday.
Osborne said Britain's fellow EU members had accepted the principle of a renegotiation and of a change in Britain's relationship with the bloc, and that discussions with the EU Commission and Council were now moving into a technical phase.
The Conservative government has pledged to negotiate better terms for Britain and then hold a referendum by the end of 2017 on whether to stay in the union or leave. (Reporting by William Schomberg, writing by Estelle Shirbon, editing by David Milliken)