UK Conservatives EU Referendum Pledge Poses Problems for Europe

LONDON (Sputnik), Daria Chernyshova — The Conservatives' victory in the UK general election signifies that during the next two years the relations between Britain and the European Union, and within the bloc as a whole, will be strained, a member of the European Parliament for the London region told Sputnik Friday.

The Conservative party, led by David Cameron, won Thursday's UK general election, securing an absolute majority of 331 seats in the British parliament. Cameron has pledged to hold a referendum on Britain's membership in the European Union by 2017.

"I think it's clear that the referendum about our continued membership in the European Union is very much on the agenda… So I think it gives us another two years of very difficult relations. And within the European Union as a whole," Jean Lambert said.

The parliamentarian noted that the governments of the EU member states want the United Kingdom to remain the member of the bloc – "but not at any price."

"And I don't think that two years is necessarily long enough for David Cameron to get sort of change that he has been talking about," Lambert concluded.

Earlier on Friday, congratulating Cameron on his re-appointment, President of the European Council Donald Tusk said he relies on the prime minister to continue the country's membership in the European Union.