LONDON, October 6. /TASS/. Business is pressing UK Prime Minister David Cameron "to accelerate plans for an EU referendum", The Financial Times reported on Tuesday.
"Simon Walker, director-general of the Institute of Directors, called for a plebiscite in 2016 and said there was ‘at least a 50-50 possibility’ that voters would vote to leave the bloc, an assessment shared by some cabinet ministers," FT said.
This leaves chances for Great Britain to remain part of the European Union. However, taking into consideration growing eurosceptic sentiment, delay in the referendum may lead to the victory of supporters of UK’s independent course.
"The prime minister’s negotiating team are still aiming to secure EU reforms and call an early referendum. But concerns are rising in Brussels that negotiations have stalled, in part owing to the refugee crisis in Europe, making it hard to deliver a deal by Christmas, the original target.," the newspaper noted.
"Countries including France are urging the UK to put pen to paper and outline reform plans, a step that ministers are reluctant to take for fear of leaving the ideas exposed to attack from the out campaign before they are even agreed," FT said. "I have no sense of the detailed British proposal," one senior EU diplomat told The Financial Times. "They give me themes and no details. They are running out of time."
British Prime Minister said that referendum on UK’s membership in the European Union will be held until the end of 2017. However, some British media say that voting may be held already in 2016. Cameron supports remaining part of EU. He pledges to convince Brussels to reform the European Union and return some powers to Great Britain. If other countries are unwilling to compromise, the UK prime minister will consider supporting Britain’s exit from EU.