British Prime Minister David Cameron's announcement that the United Kingdom may hold a referendum on its membership in the European Union could push other members to re-evaluate their roles as well. Although it is uncertain whether the referendum will actually take place, the mere possibility is generating unease on the Continent. Most important, when Cameron described the European Union as something that has been "imposed" on the European population, he brought to light a profound issue: the question of the democratic legitimacy of the European Union. Europeans have a rough relationship with referendums. Referendums on EU-related issues are rare, since most countries usually approve reforms to the European Unions' legal framework through their national parliaments.