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4 October 2011 Last updated at 09:04 GMT
Mr Cameron says he is a "practical Eurosceptic" David Cameron has said UK interests must be protected should eurozone countries seek closer integration as a result of the debt crisis in Europe.The prime minister told the BBC it was "logical" that countries using the single currency would move closer to a single economic policy.
But he said the UK and nine other EU states which are not in the eurozone would need "certain safeguards".
The BBC understands UK officials are preparing for such an eventuality.
The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said the Treasury and Foreign Office were already discussing how to protect British interests, in areas such as the City of London and the single market, should there be a fundamental change in the shape of the EU.
As the eurozone economic crisis shows no sign of abating, some of its 17 members have been talking about greater fiscal union to bolster the single currency in future and support weaker members.
At the same time, Mr Cameron is facing calls from many of his MPs for a fundamental change to the UK's relationship with Europe. Some want the UK to claw back powers from the EU while others are seeking a referendum on the UK's membership.
'Not naive'The prime minister, who calls himself a "practical eurosceptic", has said the UK must work within the current EU framework to get the best deal for Britain and that any talk of repatriating powers must wait to a later date.
He told the BBC he believed closer co-operation between eurozone members was "necessary" to prevent a repeat of the current crisis and denied he had changed his view, since before the debt crisis began in 2009.
Continue reading the main storyThis is not some naive view that they go off on their way and we are intensely relaxed about it”End Quote David Cameron on the eurozone "I have always argued that the logic of a single currency is more of a single economic policy," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"It is one of the reasons I never wanted to join it.
"As eurozone countries move to co-ordinate more, as I believe they should, those outside the eurozone will need certain safeguards to make sure that what the eurozone countries are agreeing separately does not affect the single market."
He added: "This is not some naive view that they go off on their way and we are intensely relaxed about it. There are safeguards we need and the Liberal Democrats completely agree with that."
Deputy PM Nick Clegg, whose Liberal Democrats are the most pro-European of the three biggest UK parties, has said the eurozone crisis should not be used as a justification to radically alter the UK's relationship with the European Union.
But, with 40% of UK trade going to Europe, Mr Clegg has said the single market - which is supposed to guarantee free movement of goods across Europe - must work more effectively and British firms must be able to compete on a level-playing field.
The deputy prime minister has warned that allowing eurozone states to act against the interests of other EU members would create a "divisive and weaker" Europe.
'Held back'As EU finance ministers meet in Luxembourg to discuss the crisis, Mr Cameron said it was in the UK's interest that the "fire" in the eurozone was put out as quickly as possible.
"The eurozone crisis is holding back the whole world economy, Britain included," he said. "Clearly the Greek situation needs to be resolved one way or another and extremely quickly."
The future of Europe is not on the official conference agenda and one of Mr Cameron's closest allies has warned party members against obsessing about the issue during the event.
But Nick Robinson said it was the dominant issue for many MPs and party members while the PM's advisers believed the EU could be set for a once-in-a-generation transformation due to the current crisis.
This begged the question whether the UK should seeker a closer or more distant relationship with the EU or leave altogether - a possibility rejected by the government.
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