Davos , Switzerland ( CNN ) -- Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti said he was confident the UK would stay in the European Union , despite Prime Minister David Cameron 's promise to hold a referendum on the topic . `` I am confident if there is to be a referendum , the UK citizens will decide to stay in the EU and continue to shape its future , '' Monti said during his special address at the World Economic Forum in Davos Wednesday . Read more : UK warned against 'cherry-picking ' EU policy . `` The EU does not need unwilling Europeans -- we desperately need willing Europeans , '' he said , noting a referendum would crystallize the issue . Monti said he was pushing to speed up the completion of the single market , which had lost pace after a successful launch 20 years ago . `` On this I agree with Prime Minister Cameron ... that prosperity and growth be priority number one for Europe , '' he said . Monti also used his speech to criticize the country 's financial record under predecessor Silvio Berlusconi . `` Italy in the past did not use the opportunities of the past to do reforms , '' Monti said . Should Britain stay in the EU ? What would the impact be if it left ? Send us your thoughts . The country wasted its surplus and `` lived under the illusion we could offer change without reforms , '' he added . `` This is what one can call promising reforms , and ending up with taxes and debt and a sovereign debt crisis . '' The government chose `` the policy of status quo and procrastination , '' he said , and `` the costs of inaction were dumped were dumped on our children and grandchildren until the moment of truth . '' Monti 's comments come as the union 's relationships suffer the strain of nearly three years of crisis with the euro , the common currency to which 17 of the 27 EU nations belong . Monti blamed `` short-termism '' for Italy 's financial problems , which pushed the country 's cost of borrowing above the crucial 7 % level a year ago and put it in the center of the crisis . Medvedev : Russia is open for business . Monti is a technocrat leader appointed by President Giorgio Napolitano after the soaring borrowing costs -- and Berlusconi 's colorful private life and tax scandals -- toppled the long-term leader . Berlusconi pulled his support for Monti 's government late last year , triggering elections due in February . Monti implemented tough austerity measures and said his actions had pulled the country through the crisis , although more needed to be done . `` Today , the atmosphere around Italy has changed ... I can feel Italy has gained back respect and confidence and respect for its ability to bounce back , '' he said . New year , same old problems ? `` I think this change is a reward for the action taken by my government with the support of the parliament , most of all it must be a reward for all Italian citizens . '' Monti said the `` resilience and maturity '' of the Italian people had helped the country emerge from crisis . `` More , much more needs to be done for sure , but the progress is not negligible . ''
Italian PM Mario Monti has said he is confident the UK will remain in the EU . British PM David Cameron has promised to hold a referendum on the issue . Monti also told Davos delegates the EU `` does not need unwilling Europeans ''