The French government has totally ruled out any change to European Union treaties, dealing a blow to David Cameron’s attempts to change the bloc’s rules, reports The Independent.
Harlem Désir, the country’s Europe minister, said any attempt to change treaties would be “doomed to failure” and said he believed the UK's negotiating team was aware that it would never happen.
“It has to be done without amending the treaties. We will not accept any reconsideration of our basic principles, like freedom of movement,” he told the website EurActiv.
“I think the British know this. There would be strong opposition in the majority of states. Reforming the treaties would not make Europe more efficient. It would open an uncertain process, which would take years and be doomed to failure.”
Mr Cameron is attempting to renegotiate European Union rules ahead of a referendum on whether Britain stays in the bloc, currently scheduled for 2017.