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| Donald Tusk: 'Real' risk of break-up over EU referendum talks | Donald Tusk: 'Real' risk of break-up over EU referendum talks |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Negotiations over the UK's EU reform demands are at a "critical moment" and the risk of break-up "is real", EU Council president Donald Tusk has said. | Negotiations over the UK's EU reform demands are at a "critical moment" and the risk of break-up "is real", EU Council president Donald Tusk has said. |
| Mr Tusk, who is overseeing the negotiation, urged European leaders to handle the situation "with care". | Mr Tusk, who is overseeing the negotiation, urged European leaders to handle the situation "with care". |
| UK PM David Cameron is seeking a deal at this week's crunch EU summit before holding the UK's referendum. | UK PM David Cameron is seeking a deal at this week's crunch EU summit before holding the UK's referendum. |
| Earlier he bowed to pressure to hold a cabinet meeting straight after the summit if a deal is agreed. | Earlier he bowed to pressure to hold a cabinet meeting straight after the summit if a deal is agreed. |
| A Number 10 spokesman said the prime minister and French President Francois Hollande had held "constructive discussions" on the UK renegotiation when they met in Paris late on Monday. | A Number 10 spokesman said the prime minister and French President Francois Hollande had held "constructive discussions" on the UK renegotiation when they met in Paris late on Monday. |
| "They agreed that we are making good progress... and that the draft text from the European Council provides a firm basis to reach agreement at this week's summit," the spokesman said. | "They agreed that we are making good progress... and that the draft text from the European Council provides a firm basis to reach agreement at this week's summit," the spokesman said. |
| Read more: | Read more: |
| Mr Tusk is on a tour of European countries ahead of the two-day summit of EU leaders, which begins on Thursday. | Mr Tusk is on a tour of European countries ahead of the two-day summit of EU leaders, which begins on Thursday. |
| Speaking after holding talks with the Romanian and French presidents, he said negotiations on Britain's future inside the 28-member bloc were "difficult but… hugely important". | Speaking after holding talks with the Romanian and French presidents, he said negotiations on Britain's future inside the 28-member bloc were "difficult but… hugely important". |
| Reflecting on the talks, he said: "This is a critical moment. It is high time we started listening to each other's arguments more than to our own. | Reflecting on the talks, he said: "This is a critical moment. It is high time we started listening to each other's arguments more than to our own. |
| "It is natural in negotiations that positions harden, as we get closer to crunch time. | "It is natural in negotiations that positions harden, as we get closer to crunch time. |
| "But the risk of break-up is real because this process is indeed very fragile. Handle with care. What is broken cannot be mended." | "But the risk of break-up is real because this process is indeed very fragile. Handle with care. What is broken cannot be mended." |
| BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith said Mr Tusk was trying to "concentrate minds" ahead of the EU summit as leaders of the different member states stake out their positions. | BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith said Mr Tusk was trying to "concentrate minds" ahead of the EU summit as leaders of the different member states stake out their positions. |
| The French government is said to be concerned about UK calls for protection for non-eurozone countries, but No 10 said the French had shown "willingness" to find a solution. | The French government is said to be concerned about UK calls for protection for non-eurozone countries, but No 10 said the French had shown "willingness" to find a solution. |
| As part of his diplomatic push, Mr Cameron - who met German Chancellor Angela Merkel for talks on Friday - will discuss the renegotiation with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Tuesday, as well as senior MEPs. | As part of his diplomatic push, Mr Cameron - who met German Chancellor Angela Merkel for talks on Friday - will discuss the renegotiation with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Tuesday, as well as senior MEPs. |
| If a deal is agreed on the PM's reforms, which also include curbs on migrants' welfare entitlement, he will hold a cabinet meeting on Friday evening, sources have told the BBC. | If a deal is agreed on the PM's reforms, which also include curbs on migrants' welfare entitlement, he will hold a cabinet meeting on Friday evening, sources have told the BBC. |
| Downing Street has said ministers cannot speak out until the cabinet has met to agree a government position, and it was claimed this would give the Remain campaign an unfair head start if a meeting was delayed until the following week. | Downing Street has said ministers cannot speak out until the cabinet has met to agree a government position, and it was claimed this would give the Remain campaign an unfair head start if a meeting was delayed until the following week. |
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