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David Cameron to address EU Parliament on referendum

David Cameron has vowed to hold the referendum by the end of 2017

Brussels: British Prime Minister David Cameron has accepted an invitation to address a special session of the European Parliament on his planned referendum on EU membership, a leading MEP said Thursday.

"I am delighted Cameron has, in principle, accepted my invitation to the European Parliament. This is a chance for him to finally put his cards on the table in a transparent manner," Liberal Group leader Guy Verhofstadt said.

Verhofstadt, a former Belgian premier who has repeatedly called on Cameron to explain the referendum he has vowed to hold by the end of 2017 said parliament officials were discussing dates with Cameron.

Cameron was "very honoured to be invited to the European Parliament and sees this as an opportunity to outline his ideas", a statement from Verhofstadt's office said. European Parliament President Martin Schulz's office said he had spoken to Cameron on Wednesday to discuss the issue.

"Cameron had a broadly favourable attitude towards the invitation and the two will speak again about it in the margins of the next European Council," a press officer told AFP, referring to the EU summit in mid-October.

There was no immediate confirmation from London.

Cameron won re-election earlier this year promising voters a straight "in-out" vote on Britain's EU membership by 2017. He made a first case to EU leaders at a summit in June, setting off the negotiating process, with the issue to be taken up again at a December summit.

Critics say London has been very short on specifics but Cameron says he wants curbs on welfare payments to migrants and an opt-out on its drive towards ever-closer union. Cameron says if he can successfully renegotiate Britain's membership terms, then he will campaign for a 'Yes' vote in the referendum.

( Source : AFP )
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