Gareth Thomas MP, Labour’s Shadow Europe Minister, commenting on Tony Blair’s speech to the CBI this morning:

“Europe now faces a reform moment which must be seized by David Cameron, not squandered.

“In that spirit, Labour has set out our clear and achievable European reform objectives which are focused and practical measures to help ensure that the EU works better for Britain.

“These include five key reforms that could help to immediately improve the accountability, legitimacy and effectiveness of the EU as a whole on issues which are priorities for the British people such as immigration, jobs and sustained economic growth.

“Labour wants to see real reform in Europe in order to make the EU work better for Britain. That’s why Douglas Alexander has now called on David Cameron to follow Labour’s lead and seize this moment by setting out his specific proposals for reform.”

The five key reforms, as set out in Douglas Alexander’s letter to David Cameron:

1. Ensure that the EU is focused on promoting jobs and growth across Europe by appointing an EU Growth Commissioner to help the EU overcome the economic challenges so many of its citizens still face.
2. Help manage the impact of freedom of movement across the EU, in particular by extending transitional arrangements that dictate the period of time people from new EU member states have to wait before being able to travel freely to look for work here in the UK.
3. Take action to protect the integrity of the benefits system, by stopping benefits such as Child Tax Credit and Child Benefit being sent abroad to children not living here in the UK.
4. Review the EU budget to help secure further savings and efficiencies, including introducing a zero-based review on all EU agencies, whose number and total cost have grown significantly in recent years.
5. Give national parliaments a greater say in EU policy making by introducing a red-card mechanism to enable governments to come together to block unwanted legislation.