YEREVAN, MARCH 4, ARMENPRESS. The European Union has gone "off the rails", the UK Foreign Secretary has said.

Philip Hammond told the Commons that Britain will only stay in the European Union if there is “significant change” in Brussels.

As reports “Armenpress” citing The Telegraph, Mr Hammond has in recent months held talks with 23 countries ahead of Britain’s renegotiation with the EU.

David Cameron has pledged to alter Britain’s relationship with the EU before holding an in-out referendum by the end of 2017.

Mr Hammond said: “We have to seize this opportunity to shake the European Union in a way that works for Britain. It went off the rails somewhere over the last 20 years and we’ve got to take this opportunity of reform, of renegotiation, to get it back on the rails and then crucially let the British.

A strong view has emerged among member states that Britain should remain in the EU, Mr Hammond.

Mr Hammond said: "I've currently visited 23 of our partners in the European Union.

"In a nutshell, there's a very strong view that all of the member states want Britain to remain in the European Union, an understanding that can only happen if there's significant change in the European Union, and a clear willingness to engage with us - particularly on our demands for improved competitiveness in the European Union, something that all member states want to see."

Mr Hammond has previously said that Britain is “lighting a fire under the European Union” by holding an in-out referendum on membership.