European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso regrets Britain's decision to reject proposals to boost fiscal integration at the eurozone crisis summit in Brussels:

"Having seen it was not possible to get unanimity, it was the proper decision to go ahead at least with those ready to commit immediately.

"That includes all 17 in the eurozone, plus some who are not in the euro area but want to take part in this fiscal compact.

"We would have preferred a unanimous agreement. This was not possible because it required unanimity, so the only alternative that was left was through this kind of intergovernmental treaty.

"We are determined to exercise these competencies in full so we can enforce these new fiscal rules and reinforce the governments of the euro area."