David Cameron set out the seven major changes he wants to make to the European Union to stop Britain being “sucked into a United States of Europe”. In an article for The Telegraph, the Prime Minister declared that he will campaign for Britain to stay in the EU in a referendum planned for 2017, if Brussels agrees to his terms.

He disclosed his broad agenda for renegotiating Britain’s membership, including demands for reform to Europe’s immigration, human rights and trade laws, as the price for remaining in the EU. However, the Conservative leader warned Right-wingers in his party that achieving these changes will take “time and patience”, and urged eurosceptics not to engage in “shouting from the sidelines”.

“I completely understand and share people’s concerns about the European Union", Mr Cameron wrote. “People are worried that Britain is being sucked into a United States of Europe. That may be what some others want, but it is not for us.”

In his article, Mr Cameron warned that public support for the EU is now “wafer thin” and for the first time sets out his seven “specific changes” that he wants to secure. These are:

• New controls to stop “vast migrations” across the continent when new countries join the EU;
• Tighter immigration rules to ensure that migrants come to Britain to work, not as tourists planning to cash in on “free benefits”;
• A new power for groups of national parliaments to work together to block unwanted European legislation;
• Businesses to be freed from red tape and “excessive interference” from Brussels, and given access to new markets through “turbo charging” free trade deals with America and Asia;
• British police and courts liberated from “unnecessary interference” from the European Court of Human Rights;
• More power “flowing away” from Brussels to Britain and other member states, rather than increasingly centralising laws in the EU;
• Abolishing the principle of “ever closer union” among EU Member States, which Mr Cameron said is “not right for Britain”.

The intervention is seen in Downing Street as a “serious and sober” contribution to the EU debate that adds significant detail to Mr Cameron’s negotiating strategy for securing major changes in Europe.

He argued that “the status quo” in Europe is not working” and needs to change. “While it would not be a very smart negotiating tactic to lay all Britain’s cards on the table at the outset, I know people want more detail about the specific changes we will seek. So I can confirm today that addressing these concerns will be at the heart of our approach.”

In what will be seen as a message to his own eurosceptic MPs, Mr Cameron admitted that his plan for “a new European Union” is “ambitious”, adding: “Delivering it will take time and patience, as well as strong relationships with our key allies and goodwill – not shouting from the sidelines".

He said it was clear that changes to existing EU treaties will be required, despite claims from François Hollande, the French president, that no treaties will be rewritten before a British referendum.

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Graham Bishop's blog: Europe: Miliband + Soros + Merkel = Impenetrable Fog in Channel and Clarity unlikely in Budget, 14.3.14

See also: Parliamentarians from Cameron's party argue case for Britain in EU © Reuters