France to Veto British Government's Initiative on EU Treaty Change: Reports

MOSCOW, December 18 (Sputnik) — French President Francois Hollande is expected to block the request of the UK Prime Minister David Cameron to negotiate an opt-out for Britain in the European Union (EU) treaty, the Telegraph reported Thursday.

Cameron is expected to inscribe an opt-out for the United Kingdom in an EU treaty on the principle of "ever-closer union" during a meeting of the European Council summit in Brussels on December 18-19.

"The price to keep Britain in Europe keeps getting higher and higher. It is now up to the UK to decide," an undisclosed senior French government source was quoted by the Telegraph as saying. "We will not pay an extra price to keep the UK in the EU."

The news came shortly after the UK Foreign Office issued a report Thursday on the EU Balance of Competences to "demonstrate why the EU needs ambitious reform," pointing at the EU grip on national governments.

In January 2013, the British Prime Minister promised to hold a 2017 referendum on the country's membership in the EU if the ruling Conservative Party wins an outright majority in the upcoming May 2015 general election.

British intentions may give impetus to a similar referendum in France if it becomes part of the political program of the anti-EU French National Front far-right party, the Telegraph stated.

In late November, Cameron said the United Kingdom should remain an EU member. However, he pointed out that major reforms are needed in the 28-member bloc.