LONDON (Thomson Financial) - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he could see "no reason" for a referendum on the recently agreed EU treaty so long as Britain's so-called "red lines" were not crossed.
Speaking at a joint news conference with Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates, who holds EU presidency until the end of the year, Brown said he wanted to see the red lines "in detail" in the final document.
Britain has said it will not cede national control in four key areas: foreign policy, the judicial and police system, tax and social security rules, and an EU charter of fundamental rights.
"What I want to ensure is that these red lines in detail are part of the new amending treaty and when it is discussed in the next few months that the principles that were agreed in Brussels are included in every single detail in the amending treaty that is finally agreed," Brown said.
"If that were the case, then I see no reason to recommend to the British people that there should be a referendum," he added.
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