Britain wants "good renegotiation" of EU membership

Britain wants "good renegotiation" of EU membership

"If there is no change at all in the way Europe is governed, no change in the balance of competences between the nation states and the European Union, no resolution of the challenge of how the Eurozone can succeed and coexist with the non-Eurozone - that is not a Europe that can work for Britain in the future, so there must be change, there must be renegotiation," he told the BBC.

Hammond, "a known eurosceptic", recently took over as foreign secretary after holding the defense portfolio in David Cameron's government, and says his main task in the next nine to ten months will be to prepare renegotiation with the EU.

After these talks end, he announced the British public would be informed of his recommendations.

"We're all in government in the same place on Europe. We all believe that the status quo is not an acceptable way to run Europe in the future," the British official said.

Hammond also noted that his appointment was sending a signal that Britain was serious in its intention to regain some of the competences now held by Brussels, and that he did not wish to start negotiations with the EU with threats - but was determined in his intention to protect British interests ahead of a referendum on leaving the EU, planned for 2017.

Reuters said in its report that Cameron promised "to try to reshape Britain's EU ties if re-elected next year before giving voters a membership referendum - something opinion polls show could be close."