Here is Nick Clegg’s statement on the dramatic events overnight in Europe:
I regret that last night it proved to be impossible to find a way forward as a group of 27 on European treaty change.
I have said for months that it would be best to avoid arcane debates about treaty change altogether and if we had to proceed down that road, it would be best to do so in a way that did not create divisions in Europe.
The demands Britain made for safeguards, on which the Coalition Government was united, were modest and reasonable. They were safeguards for the single market, not just the UK.
There were no demands of repatriation of powers from the EU to Britain and no demands for a unilateral carve-out of UK financial services.
What we sought to ensure was to maintain a level playing field in financial services and the single market as a whole. This would have retained the UK’s ability to take tougher, not looser, regulatory action to sort out our banking system.
As a lifelong pro-European, I will continue to argue within Government and with our European partners that where changes now occur, it is essential that the integrity of our open European single market is kept intact and that we work together on the long term problems of competitiveness within the EU on which millions of people’s jobs depend.
UPDATE: See also Sarah Ludford’s comments that the British demands were “reasonable”.
UPDATE 2: I’ve now blogged a more detailed analysis of the post-summit fallout and Liberal Democrat reactions.
Keep up with the latest news and analysis
about the Liberal Democrats with my
free monthly email newsletter.
I scour hundreds of blogs and dozens of media outlets for the best news and analysis - so you don't have to. It's completely free and you can leave the list at any time. So why not give it a try today?
You might also be interested in...
Nick Clegg's verdict on events in Europe – http://t.co/GptYzN3H < New blog by me
Nick Clegg's verdict on events in Europe – http://t.co/GptYzN3H < New blog by me
Nick Clegg's verdict on events in Europe – http://t.co/GptYzN3H < New blog by me
RT @markpack: Nick Clegg's verdict on events in Europe – http://t.co/Yqo5WRkR
RT @markpack: Nick Clegg's verdict on events in Europe – http://t.co/Yqo5WRkR
Nick Clegg's verdict on events in Europe – http://t.co/GptYzN3H < New blog by me
“@libdemvoice: RT @markpack: Nick Clegg's verdict on events in Europe – http://t.co/DAU5cjtd” << bang on, Nick hits nail on the head #fb
RT @markpack: Nick Clegg's verdict on events in Europe – http://t.co/Yqo5WRkR
Nick Clegg's verdict on events in Europe: http://t.co/LvC0i8oZ
Feeling rather unconvinced by @nick_clegg's statement, to be honest. http://t.co/C1n7GSxa
Nick Clegg's verdict on events in Europe – http://t.co/GptYzN3H < New blog by me
RT @nicola_prigg Nick Clegg's verdict on events in Europe: http://t.co/Iod8ogau
RT @nicola_prigg Nick Clegg's verdict on events in Europe: http://t.co/S8TSwnnf
Clegg pathetic as always http://t.co/3Gfhkg6r #Condems #Euro #EU
Hmmmmmm RT @markpack: Nick Clegg's verdict on events in Europe – http://t.co/6cqwDnCy”
@TiggerTherese If you're interested – http://t.co/twGRfIJt
Nick Clegg's verdict on events in Europe – http://t.co/GptYzN3H < New blog by me
Clegg's statement on euro negs. RT @chuzzlit If you're interested -http://www.markpack.org.uk/28053/nick-cleggs-verdict-on-events-in-europe/
Clegg's statement on the outcome of euro negotiations. RT @chuzzlit If you're interested – http://t.co/4w8EtpR4
@eyeofhorus Nick Clegg – http://t.co/SjsHDL9l
http://t.co/Yid0o6az
Nick Clegg's verdict on events
[...] MEP Chris Davies, frequently the iconclast* and always the strong pro-European, is disagreeing with Nick Clegg’s views over Europe today. But that makes fellow Lib Dem MEP Sarah Ludford’s view all the more [...]
[...] Nick Clegg: I have said for months that it would be best to avoid arcane debates about treaty change altogether and if we had to proceed down that road, it would be best to do so in a way that did not create divisions in Europe. [...]
[...] Nick Clegg’s verdict on events in Europe on Mark Pack’s [...]
RT @libdemvoice RT @markpack: Nick Clegg's verdict on events in Europe – http://t.co/QM5VHsm9
Interesting analysis > RT @aboutpower: RT @libdemvoice RT @markpack: Nick Clegg's verdict on events in Europe – http://t.co/jTqcEBrG