Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson has welcomed the Prime Minister David Cameron's latest comments on the process of EU renegotiation. Mr Cameron today wrote to Donald Tusk, the President of the European Council, to outline the UK Government's renegotiation objectives.
Mr Nicholson said:
"I am glad that the Prime Minister's negotiations with the European Union are now stepping up a gear.
"With 28 EU Member States, there will obviously be a number of difficulties encountered during this process, but I firmly believe that it is possible for a significantly reformed EU to be achieved. The United Kingdom is not the only Member State that wants reform, and will certainly have allies in seeking to bring more powers back to national governments.
"It is crucial that the UK Government bear Northern Ireland in mind during this process - we are the only part of the United Kingdom to share a land border with a Eurozone country. I recently met with the Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond to underscore the importance of this.
"Mr Cameron's letter however only sets out his objectives ahead of negotiations with EU leaders. As always, the devil will be in the detail and we wait to see what changes are actually secured during the renegotiation.
"I will closely follow developments as the process moves to the next stage. Once we have all the facts on the table, the people will make their decision in a referendum."