As George Osborne visits Paris for two-day talks in a bid to renegotiate the UK's relationship with the European Union, Dr Dennis Novy, an economist from the University of Warwick, warns it's not going to be easy.

He said: "The government is facing an uphill struggle. George Osborne and David Cameron want to renegotiate the terms of British EU membership. But the way to get things done in Brussels is by making friends and seeking compromise.

"It is hard to get things done by threatening to leave the club by holding a referendum. It will be difficult to get meaningful change of the type that the UK government desires. The timetable is too tight."

Notes to Editors:

Dr Dennis Novy is based in central London and is available for interviews. Contact Lee Page, Communications Manager, Press and Policy Office, The University of Warwick. Tel: +44 (0)2476 574 255, Mob: +44 (0)7920 531 221. Email: l.page@warwick.ac.uk.

Watch one of Dr Novy's previous TV interviews with Sky News: