Reinfeldt Says U.K. in EU Is of ‘Vital Interest’ to Sweden

Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said the U.K. staying in the European Union is of “vital interest” to Sweden.

Prime Minister David Cameron today pledged a referendum on Britain leaving the European Union, allowing U.K. voters to decide on breaking up the 27-nation bloc.

Cameron “took an initiative to make possible for the United Kingdom to stay inside the European Union,” Reinfeldt said in Davos, Switzerland, where he is attending the World Economic Forum.

“I think he also was very clear that he was pushing his political weight on a future campaign that the U.K. should stay inside the European Union, which is of vital interest to Sweden, because we view the U.K. as a like-minded country in many of the important issues we are discussing concerning job creation and competitiveness and free trade agreements,” he said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Zoe Schneeweiss in Davos, Switzerland at zschneeweiss@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: John Fraher at jfraher@bloomberg.net

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Jan. 23 (Bloomberg) -- Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt talks about U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron's pledge for a referendum on Britain's membership in the European Union. He spoke on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. (Source: Bloomberg)