EU leaders reject Syria move
Prime Minister David Cameron has told ITV News Europe Editor James Mates that EU leaders did not discuss military intervention in Syria during the EU summit.
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Cameron: 'All options should be considered' regarding Syria
David Cameron today said that "all options should be considered", regarding the situation in Syria.
"How do we help, work with, shape, support, advice, back the opposition forces who are effectively creating a transition from below," he said.
ITV News' James Mates reports:
Cameron: 'Opportunities' to change EU relationship
Prime Minister David Cameron said today there are "opportunities" for the UK to seek changes in its relationship with the EU.
Following a summit of EU leaders in Brussels, Mr Cameron said:
We did not stand in the way of the eurozone having a banking union... now there are opportunities for us to seek changes in our [EU] relationship, changes that the British people will be more comfortable with.
They [the eurozone members] want to make changes, and we can ask for changes too.
Though none of the elements of the banking union agreed would directly affect the UK, Mr Cameron highlighted that any changes within the eurozone would ultimately affect the wider EU "of which we are an important part".
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Cameron warns 'nothing is off the table' over Syria
Prime Minister David Cameron indicated Britain is ready to step up its support for the Syrian opposition, warning, "Nothing is off the table".
Speaking at the end of an EU leaders summit in Brussels, he said the EU and Britain should be doing everything they can to protect civilians in the country and to help accelerate the transition from President Bashar Assad's regime.
"I think it is very important that we do this", Mr Cameron said.
"I want a very clear message to go out to President Assad that nothing is off the table, that further support, further work, further help with the opposition - who are now better formed, better organised, better co-ordinated - is robustly on the table".
"It is a very difficult situation. There are no easy answers. These things do take time. We have to understand all the complexities", he added.
Cameron: Military intervention in Syria not discussed
Prime Minister David Cameron told ITV News Europe Editor James Mates the EU leaders discussed how they could encourage transition in Syria "at the top" - through the United Nations - and help and advise the Syrian opposition forces.
Mr Cameron said they had not discussed the possibility of military intervention during the summit:
Cameron: Banking union should not discriminate
Prime Minister David Cameron said a eurozone banking union should not discriminate against those countries who do not use the single currency.
He told reporters at the EU summit in Brussels that changes within the eurozone affect Britain as they "affect the organisation that we are are part of".
Mr Cameron also reiterated that Britain will not become a eurozone member, adding, "Certainly not while I'm Prime Minister anyway".
EU leaders arrive for second day of finance summit
European Union leaders have arrived for the second day of their final summit of 2012.
They are set to resume discussions on the future of the euro and on the region's growing economic crisis.
After clinching a deal on banking supervision in the eurozone and approving the long-awaited aid tranche to Greece on the first day of the Brussels summit, the EU leaders will discuss taking further steps to shore up their finances.
They are expected to continue discussions on how to make countries stick to economic targets and on creating a "solidarity fund" to help member states suffering one-off economic shocks.
Prime Minister David Cameron said he will push for "a better deal for Britain in Europe" during the talks.
As he arrived this morning, French President Francois Hollande told reporters, "What I want to do next year, is to make Europe more solid, more strong, a Europe that thinks about everybody and that does not make a spectacle of of its problems".
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EU leaders hail breakthrough on eurozone banks
EU leaders are expected to hail a breakthrough in efforts to strengthen integration in the eurozone.
However, decisions at the EU summit in Brussels to set out a range of checks and balances on eurozone banks also raise new questions about a two tier Europe.
British banks will not to subject to the new centralised scrutiny, continuing to be supervised by national authorities.
Most of the other nine non-eurozone states are considering whether to submit their banks to the new economic crackdown.
Only the UK and Denmark are able to formally opt out of joining the euro.
EU leaders approve plans on bank supervision
EU leaders have given a stamp of approval to a deal on bank supervision intended to help in ending three years of crisis.
However, leaders differed regarding the next steps for the euro currency union. Talks will resume later on Friday for the second day of the summit.
Cameron pushes for new UK deal at EU summit
David Cameron will be reasonably satisfied with the outcome of the latest European negotiations, reports ITV News' Europe Editor James Mates:
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'Mr Berlusconi comes back, Europe trembles!'
The former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has said he is willing to be considered as a successor to the outgoing Mario Monti.
Asked by a reporter if he would be a candidate, he replied in French: "If it's necessary, yes!
"If there is...someone who would be available who could put together all the Italians from the moderate centre then I would be happy to not be a candidate in my old age."
When asked if was disappointed he did not have the support of the centre right grouping, the European People's Party, he said: "They support me, absolutely!
"From time to time someone criticises me for certain things, but when they speak to me they agree with me.
"The last couple of days, I read the headlines of all newspapers, including those in the European newspapers, and the verdict was: 'Mr Berlusconi comes back, Europe trembles!'"