PM said he won't take a deal that 'does not meet what we
need' warning the substance is more important than timing
EU leaders gathered in Brussels face a series of
disagreements over what Britain has demanded from the EU
Germany and Austria also want 'emergency' migrant benefit
safeguards sparking fears in eastern Europe
But EU Commission chief says he's 'quite confident' a deal
can be reached as talks could stretch into the night
Agreement on safeguards for the pound and the eurozone
appeared to be done as the leaders sat down for the talks
Prime Minister David Cameron has met with the six EU leaders
who are set to decide Britain's future over a glamorous meal of avocado and
shrimp, but they are finding his demands more difficult to swallow.
Mr Cameron has been pleading at a summit in Brussels for a
‘credible’ package to help him lock Britain into the EU for a ‘generation’.
But his colleagues have strongly objected to his plans to
limit access to the so-called welfare state.
The Prime Minister has allies in Germany's Angela Merkel and
Denmark's Lars Lokke Rasmussen.
But he still has to square concerns from France's Francois
Hollande, and eastern European leaders including Poland's Beata Szydlo and
Hungary's Viktor Orban.
Austria’s Werner Faymann arrived at the talks with a strong
agenda to tackle the flow of migrants into his country.
David Cameron last night promised EU leaders his draft deal
could end Britain's 'festering' relationship with the group and move them to a
new 'live and let live approach'.
Speaking to his 27 colleagues at the first working session
of a summit that could define his career, the Prime Minster said there was a
'big prize' on offer if the deal could be struck - but he warned progress was
vital to come up with a 'credible offer' for the British people.
But Eastern European leaders insisted curbs on welfare
handouts to foreign workers must be phased in gradually.
In a further slapdown, EU leaders warned that any package
that is cobbled together will be final - the UK must take it or quit the
European Union for good.
The French and the Belgians insisted there could be no
second referendum if the UK votes to leave.
The group last night joined together for a meal of avocado
and shrimp 'imparfait'; cod loin with wheat beer emulsion and duo of potato;
followed by a light mango mousse with caramelised pineapple and coffee.
Wines for the gathering were reportedly chosen from a secret
list.
Mr Cameron arrived at the crunch Brussels summit vowing he
would be 'battling for Britain' at the talks which are due to conclude around
lunch time today.
Downing Street insisted Mr Cameron was resisting the demands
for a further cave-in. Sources indicated he was looking to toughen his own
requirements – asking for a brake that restricts migrants claiming tax credits
to last for up to 13 years.
But Eurosceptic MPs said it still seemed that the ‘thin
gruel’ on offer to voters appeared to be getting even thinner. They added that,
despite the drama in Brussels, the negotiation remained a huge missed
opportunity to fundamentally change Britain’s relationship with the EU.
Sources close to Mr Cameron warned it was likely to be a 'long
night' as the first round of summit talks had been 'tough' with 'real
outstanding issues'.
Failure to strike an overnight deal could force Mr Cameron
to delay Britain's EU referendum from the summer despite clear signals it is
pencilled in for June 23.
EU leaders sat down for their first formal talks last night
as they wrestled with competing demands from Britain and the fears of other
member states - particularly the so-called 'Visegrad group' from eastern Europe
who are worried about benefit restrictions.
At the first session of the talks, Mr Cameron said: 'The
question of Britain's place in Europe has been allowed to fester for too long
and it's time to deal
If we can reach agreement here that is strong enough to
persuade the British people to support UK membership of the EU, then we have an
opportunity to settle the issue for a generation.
'It's an opportunity to move to a fundamentally different
approach to our relations with the EU - a live and let live approach,
reflecting that those states who wish to integrate further can do so while
those of us who don't can be reassured that their interests will be protected
and they won't need to fight for those at every turn on a case by case basis.
He said he needs a package that is 'credible with the
British people' and that 'there are therefore a number of areas where we need
to make progress tonight'.
EU leaders will all come together again at around 10am today
in a bid to finalise the deal following late night bilaterals and informal
talks on the margins of the summit.
The Prime Minister's plea came as other EU states demanded a
'no second chance' agreement to make clear to Britain that Europe will not come
back with a better offer if it votes to Leave.
As wrangling over a proposed reform package got under way in
earnest at a 'make or break' Brussels summit, Britain's line on key welfare
measures appeared to be hardening.
Mr Cameron wants the new system - under which payments would
be made at the lower rates of the migrant's homeland - brought in quickly and
believes it is not acceptable for it effectively to be phased in over 16 years
as the children of 34,000 existing claimants in the UK reach adulthood.
UK officials said child benefit was among a number of key
issues, including protections for non-euro countries and a proposed emergency
brake on migrant welfare, which remain to be settled at a crunch European
Council summit.
Mr Cameron was prepared to keep talking into the night as
officials tried to hammer out the precise terms of a deal which can be agreed
on Friday, clearing the way for the announcement of a referendum date following
a special Cabinet meeting in London.
As he arrived at the summit yesterday afternoon, Mr Cameron
said: 'We've got some important work to do today and tomorrow and it is going
to be hard. I'll be battling for Britain.
'If we can get a good deal, I will take that deal, but I
will not take a deal that does not meet what we need.
'It is much more important to get this right than to do
anything in a rush.
'But with good will, and hard work, we can get a better deal
for Britain.'
At his first meeting, Mr Cameron joked with EU Council
president Donald Tusk that they faced a 'long night tonight' before adding
perhaps a 'long day tomorrow'.
The summit is due to end at lunchtime today and British
officials admitted this was 'crunch time' and it would be 'deal or no deal'.
If Mr Cameron declares he has an acceptable deal he is due
to meet his Cabinet this afternoon to formally agree a Government position.
He will then suspend collective responsibility to allow
ministers who oppose him and the deal to speak out.
Changes which emerged overnight are likely to be fiercely
opposed by eastern European countries at last night's talks.
They fear millions of their citizens living in western
European states will face discrimination over benefits.
In previous versions of the text the so-called 'emergency
brake' would have only applied to Britain, Ireland and Sweden - the three
member states that did not take advantage of transitional controls on EU
migrants from Poland and nine other eastern European countries in 2004.
Countries such as Germany and Austria - overwhelmed by
refugees fleeing the Middle East - demanded that they too can introduce
temporary restrictions on EU migrants claiming in-work benefits.
But in a sign of progress, EU sources said French concerns
over protecting the eurozone may have been dealt with.
One set of 'square brackets' - which denote disagreement in
the draft text - were set to be lifted before the first formal meeting began.
The latest changes on benefits are still likely to make a
deal more difficult to reach.
Romania voiced opposition to the latest changes yesterday
morning, worried that the ability of all member states to impose restrictions
on benefits being paid to their citizens would harm the million Romanians
currently living in Spain and Italy.
Arriving at the summit, Mr Tusk - the man charged with
running today's talks - warned there was a lot of work to do.
He said: 'As you know we are in the middle of still very
difficult and sensitive negotiations on the UK question.
'One thing is clear to me, this is a make or break summit, I
have no doubt.'
It is understood the PM has set his face against calls from
eastern Europe for child benefit cuts to be imposed only on new migrants with
offspring living in their home country.
As she arrived, German chancellor Angela Merkel: 'We gladly
want to do everything to create the conditions so Britain can remain a part of
the European Union.'
 |
Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, pictured right
alongside Parliament president Martin Schulz yesterday morning, said he was
'convinced' the UK would remain a 'constructive and active' member
|
In his own first statement at the summit, French president
Francois Hollande said: 'Agreement on Britain's EU membership is possible
because it is necessary but no country should have a veto right.
'France wants Britain to stay in the EU but Europe must not
be stopped from moving forward.
'We must at the same time as we are talking about Great
Britain, think about all the other countries.
'It's the European Union that's at stake, not simply one
country of the European Union.
'I hope that Great Britain will stay in the European Union,
but I especially hope that we all advance together and that no-one, no head of
government can stop that.
Lithuanian president Dalia Grybauskaitė struck a more
positive note.
She told reporters yesterday afternoon: 'Everybody will have
his own drama, then we will agree.'
Hungarian PM Viktor Orban said: 'I think we will have a good
negotiation and I think we have a good chance to make an agreement. I am rather
optimistic.'
And Estonian PM Taavi Roivas said: 'We are here today to
agree on a fair deal - a fair deal for both the UK and EU so that David can
recommend the British people to vote Yes at the referendum. I am convinced that
this kind of deal is achievable and we will work hard to achieve it today.
Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny said as he arrived at the summit:
'There will be some bilateral contacts with countries that still have some
difficulties about the ins/outs of the 'ever closer union', about the question
of welfare.
'We are very supportive of this, we will back up the claim
that Britain should remain a central member of the European Union and I do hope
that it can be concluded tomorrow so that the Prime Minister can make his
timing of a referendum known to the British people.
Speaking yesterday morning, European Commission president
Jean-Claude Juncker said he was 'convinced' that the UK would remain a
'constructive and active' member of the 28-nation bloc.
Mr Juncker said: 'I'm quite confident that we will have a
deal during this European Council.'
He added: 'I'm convinced that Britain will be a constructive
and active member of the European Union.'
Mr Cameron departed for Brussels yesterday knowing key
elements of his demands for change in Britain's relations with the EU still in
dispute.
The Prime Minister met Mr Tusk at the European Council
building for discussions ahead of the summit and was also due to meet Croatian
PM Tihomir Oreskovic and Latvian PM Maris Kucinskis, both of whom have been
elected since the last Council summit in December.
An EU source said at the end of last night's dinner Mr Tusk
would tell leaders 'we'll see each other again tomorrow' and added the
breakfast this morning will be 'when the real negotiations take place and
hopefully there will be an agreement.
The source said: 'At the round table at the start of the
summit the main issues will identified and the persons with biggest problem
identified. Sherpas will work through the night to find a solution.
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