12 December 2011 Last updated at 08:54 ET

Wales 'on the fringes' after Cameron's European veto

David Cameron's decision to "walk away" from the EU negotiating table has been criticised by the Welsh Liberal Democrats' leader.

Kirsty Williams said she was not convinced the prime minister worked hard enough to get a good deal for Wales and the UK.

He vetoed EU treaty changes that he said were against the UK's interest.

Meanwhile, the head of Airbus, visiting Flintshire, said he remains positive about links with Europe.

'Compromise'

Mrs Williams said: "I am not convinced that David Cameron worked hard enough at negotiating a good deal for Wales and the UK.

"Negotiation is never easy and it involves a degree of compromise.

"Walking away from the European table with nothing now leaves Wales and the UK on the fringes of the biggest single market trading area in the world.

"This means that we will not be able to exert the kind of influence in Europe that could benefit Welsh jobs and businesses."

Her comments follow those of deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, who said the outcome of the EU leaders' summit in Brussels on Friday was "bad for Britain".

Mr Cameron blocked changes to the EU's Lisbon Treaty, in part to protect the City of London from excessive intervention by Europe.

Louis Gallois, chief executive of Eads, the parent company of Airbus, said the partnership between Britain, France and Germany in building aircraft "is a good example of what Europe can do at its best".

He was speaking during a visit to the Airbus plant at Broughton in Flintshire which employs 6,000 people making wings for airliners.

Asked for his reaction to Mr Cameron's decision and if he had any worries about the future because of the veto, Mr Gallois told BBC Wales: "I don't want to comment on political issues. I think Eads is a good example of what we could do in Europe all together."

The company was a "good symbol of Europe... a successful Europe with the UK", he said.

"The prime minister has visited our new facility at Broughton, and I think it is a good example once again of what Europe can do at its best.

"I think we could overcome that, and we know that the UK for us is in Europe. Clearly"

The Conservative MP for Montgomeryshire, Glyn Davies, said Mr Cameron had "done the right thing".

"I don't think the prime minister had any alternative," he said.