The EU treaty agreed in Brussels a success

The EU treaty agreed in Brussels was a success for Britain, the Prime Minister has said.

Speaking at a Downing Street press conference with Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates, Mr Brown said that it was now important to ensure that the "red lines" secured by Britain were included "in all formal writing" over the next several months.

The PM pointed to the "essential objectives" that had been achieved in the negotiations last month, namely the protection of the UK's control over key areas such as national security, foreign policy and social security provision. With these points written into the amending treaty document, there would be "no need" to take the agreement to a referendum, he said.

"What we did accept [in Brussels] was a number of changes and these are changes that make the EU with its membership of 27 work better.

"I reaffirmed to the prime minister that we had secured our negotiating objectives and we want them reflected in all the detail of the agreements over the next few months. If that were the case, then I would see no need to recommend to the British people that there were a referendum."

Mr Brown added that it was important to push ahead with other issues vital to Britain and the EU such as a world trade agreement, increased economic cooperation and combatting terrorism.

Mr Socrates endorsed the PM's comments, adding that he believed there would be "no problem" with Britain in spelling out the detail of the amending treaty. Portugal has taken on the rotating presidency of the EU and will oversee the drafting of the treaty document from July to October this year.

Mr Socrates also expressed the solidarity of Portugal with the UK following the failed terrorist attacks in Glasgow and London. Fighting terrorism would be a priority throughout the term of Portugal's presidency, he said.

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