UK calls for halt to further integration

Britain will demand a moratorium on further EU integration after the bruising battle to secure the Treaty of Lisbon signed by EU leaders yesterday.

At a summit in Brussels today, Gordon Brown will tell his European counterparts that the EU must "move on" to issues that matter to ordinary people, such as the global economy and climate change.

The Prime Minister will argue that a plan by France to set up a committee of "wise men" to look at what kind of EU should exist by 2020-30 should not provide the platform for a push towards "ever-closer union".

The "reflections group" will be set up today but a senior British official said: "We don't want it to be a route to reopen the debate on the EU's institutions."

Although most EU leaders are in no mood for another wrangle over the EU's decision-making procedures, they may stop short of bowing to Mr Brown's call for further internal changes to be ruled out for at least 10 years.

But aides said that mentioning 10 years in the summit statement could cut both ways as it could be seen as a signal that there would be another "big bang" review at that point.

Mr Brown said yesterday: "With the conclusion of the debate on the EU amending treaty, the EU must now urgently turn its attention to strengthening international capacity to secure greater financial security."