We inherited a policy from the Conservatives, who appeared to believe that the best way of approaching our neighbours was to be as rude as possible to them. This was not a constructive basis for getting an agreement and moving forward. We have taken the view that we should not be on the side lines, we should be playing a central part on the team, setting agenda, giving leadership. One of the areas where I am proud of the role that Britain has played in the past four years is the way in which we have acted as champions of the enlargement of the European Union. We are on the verge of a really exciting, historic change in the nature of the European Union.
Enlargement is a really awfully boring term.
I wish that we could find something that more captures the very exciting, dramatic change that is going to happen. A European Union that stretches from Portugal to Poland. The biggest single market in the world, a very big player in international trade talks. And I want Cyprus to be part of that new expanded, exciting future for Europe. I want it to be a member sooner rather than later.