<p>Worries over a British exit from the European Union weighed on participants at the World Economic Forum today, with France's prime minister warning that it would be a "tragedy" that could prove an inspiration to populists around the region at a time when many countries are contending with massive numbers of refugees.<br /><br /></p>.<p>British Prime Minister David Cameron said he's in no hurry to hold a referendum on his country's future in the EU, if a deal on his reform proposals doesn't emerge at a summit of European leaders in February. But he insisted that his aim is to "secure" Britain's future in a reformed EU, a stance that he says is the best outcome for both sides.<br /><br />"If there's a good deal on the table, I will take it," he told an audience of mainly business leaders in the Swiss ski resort of Davos. "But if there isn't the right deal, I'm not in a hurry. I can hold my referendum any time up until the end of 2017. And it's much more important to get this right than to rush it."<br /><br />One of the major tenets of the manifesto of Cameron's Conservative Party, which won a governing majority in last May's general election, was a pledge to hold a referendum on Britain's future in the EU by the end of 2017 after a renegotiation process.<br /><br />Britain's future in the EU is set to be the main discussion point a summit of the EU's 28 leaders on Feb. 18-19. The thinking until very recently was that an agreement would emerge then, paving the way for a referendum in the summer.<br /><br />The refugee crisis that has engulfed Europe over the past few months as people leave conflict zones, notably from Syria, has raised worries that a deal may not be achieved in time for one thing a referendum date will need time to legislate.<br /><br />Many European issues are up in the air at the moment, including what to do with the Schengen Agreement that allows borderless travel across much of the continent.<br />Cameron laid out his four reform proposals, which he insisted were "not outrageous asks."<br /><br /> He said he wants to "hard-wire" competitiveness into the EU's DNA, make sure non-euro countries like Britain aren't discriminated by the 19 EU countries that use the euro currency, get Britain out of the idea of an "ever-closer union" and curbs on migration and benefits.<br /><br />Since joining what was then known as the European Economic Community in 1973, Britain's membership has often been strained. Over the past few years, a groundswell of opinion in the country thinks exiting the EU is the best option, especially at a time when many of its members are getting closer together, notably with the creation of the euro currency.<br /><br /> In last May's election, the U.K. Independence Party, which aims to get Britain out of the EU, won 4 million, or just under 13 percent of the total. Many supporters of Cameron's Conservatives would likely vote for Brexit too whatever deal emerges.</p>
<p>Worries over a British exit from the European Union weighed on participants at the World Economic Forum today, with France's prime minister warning that it would be a "tragedy" that could prove an inspiration to populists around the region at a time when many countries are contending with massive numbers of refugees.<br /><br /></p>.<p>British Prime Minister David Cameron said he's in no hurry to hold a referendum on his country's future in the EU, if a deal on his reform proposals doesn't emerge at a summit of European leaders in February. But he insisted that his aim is to "secure" Britain's future in a reformed EU, a stance that he says is the best outcome for both sides.<br /><br />"If there's a good deal on the table, I will take it," he told an audience of mainly business leaders in the Swiss ski resort of Davos. "But if there isn't the right deal, I'm not in a hurry. I can hold my referendum any time up until the end of 2017. And it's much more important to get this right than to rush it."<br /><br />One of the major tenets of the manifesto of Cameron's Conservative Party, which won a governing majority in last May's general election, was a pledge to hold a referendum on Britain's future in the EU by the end of 2017 after a renegotiation process.<br /><br />Britain's future in the EU is set to be the main discussion point a summit of the EU's 28 leaders on Feb. 18-19. The thinking until very recently was that an agreement would emerge then, paving the way for a referendum in the summer.<br /><br />The refugee crisis that has engulfed Europe over the past few months as people leave conflict zones, notably from Syria, has raised worries that a deal may not be achieved in time for one thing a referendum date will need time to legislate.<br /><br />Many European issues are up in the air at the moment, including what to do with the Schengen Agreement that allows borderless travel across much of the continent.<br />Cameron laid out his four reform proposals, which he insisted were "not outrageous asks."<br /><br /> He said he wants to "hard-wire" competitiveness into the EU's DNA, make sure non-euro countries like Britain aren't discriminated by the 19 EU countries that use the euro currency, get Britain out of the idea of an "ever-closer union" and curbs on migration and benefits.<br /><br />Since joining what was then known as the European Economic Community in 1973, Britain's membership has often been strained. Over the past few years, a groundswell of opinion in the country thinks exiting the EU is the best option, especially at a time when many of its members are getting closer together, notably with the creation of the euro currency.<br /><br /> In last May's election, the U.K. Independence Party, which aims to get Britain out of the EU, won 4 million, or just under 13 percent of the total. Many supporters of Cameron's Conservatives would likely vote for Brexit too whatever deal emerges.</p>