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The six who will decide Britain’s EU fate: who are they and what do they want? The six who will decide Britain’s EU fate: who are they and what do they want?
(7 months later)
From a one-time bookseller to a Pole given to pithy Shakespearean tweets, a small, powerful and eclectic group of deal-makers will attempt to help forge an agreement on renegotiating Britain’s relationship with the EU.From a one-time bookseller to a Pole given to pithy Shakespearean tweets, a small, powerful and eclectic group of deal-makers will attempt to help forge an agreement on renegotiating Britain’s relationship with the EU.
David CameronDavid Cameron
In an early speech as Conservative leader, David Cameron told his party it was time to stop “banging on” about Europe. Almost a decade later, he finds himself doing almost nothing else.In an early speech as Conservative leader, David Cameron told his party it was time to stop “banging on” about Europe. Almost a decade later, he finds himself doing almost nothing else.
The prime minister promised to renegotiate Britain’s place in the EU and hold a referendum before 2017. Now he has to nail down the deal with other EU leaders and sell it to the British public in the first referendum on Britain’s EU membership since 1975. He has said he will not resign if the UK votes to leave, but his job and legacy are on the line.The prime minister promised to renegotiate Britain’s place in the EU and hold a referendum before 2017. Now he has to nail down the deal with other EU leaders and sell it to the British public in the first referendum on Britain’s EU membership since 1975. He has said he will not resign if the UK votes to leave, but his job and legacy are on the line.
Angela MerkelAngela Merkel
Related: A deal on Britain's EU future: four possible outcomes
When Cameron began his European odyssey, he assumed Angela Merkel would be able to sell his renegotiation plan to other EU member states. Although the German chancellor told him he needed to win their support himself, she remains a pivotal figure.When Cameron began his European odyssey, he assumed Angela Merkel would be able to sell his renegotiation plan to other EU member states. Although the German chancellor told him he needed to win their support himself, she remains a pivotal figure.
Helpfully for Cameron, Germany supports Cameron’s agenda on competitiveness and is increasingly warm about restricting in-work benefits for other EU citizens. Merkel, battling to shape a coherent European response to the refugee crisis, is conscious of the geopolitical damage a Brexit would inflict on Europe. “Europe needs Great Britain and Great Britain needs Europe,” she has said.Helpfully for Cameron, Germany supports Cameron’s agenda on competitiveness and is increasingly warm about restricting in-work benefits for other EU citizens. Merkel, battling to shape a coherent European response to the refugee crisis, is conscious of the geopolitical damage a Brexit would inflict on Europe. “Europe needs Great Britain and Great Britain needs Europe,” she has said.
Donald TuskDonald Tusk
Donald Tusk, the former Polish prime minister who chairs the meetings of EU leaders, is a key player in securing a deal. Keenly aware of the high stakes and the cost of failure, Tusk has been on a hectic round of shuttle diplomacy that took him to five European capitals in two days. Tusk, the first person from the former communist bloc to occupy a top EU job, has warned that the risk of break-up is real: “Handle with care, what is broken cannot be mended.”Donald Tusk, the former Polish prime minister who chairs the meetings of EU leaders, is a key player in securing a deal. Keenly aware of the high stakes and the cost of failure, Tusk has been on a hectic round of shuttle diplomacy that took him to five European capitals in two days. Tusk, the first person from the former communist bloc to occupy a top EU job, has warned that the risk of break-up is real: “Handle with care, what is broken cannot be mended.”
Bohuslav SobotkaBohuslav Sobotka
Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic are the most vocal opponents to the British plans to cut in-work benefits for EU citizens. Bohuslav Sobotka, the Czech prime minister, has emerged as spokesman for the group, rather than more combative figures, such as Hungary’s Viktor Orbán or Slovakia’s Robert Fico.Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic are the most vocal opponents to the British plans to cut in-work benefits for EU citizens. Bohuslav Sobotka, the Czech prime minister, has emerged as spokesman for the group, rather than more combative figures, such as Hungary’s Viktor Orbán or Slovakia’s Robert Fico.
Sobotka, a Social Democrat who has been at the head of the Czech government for two years, is less Eurosceptic than some of his predecessors and is staunchly opposed to UK plans to cut child benefit for children living outside the UK.Sobotka, a Social Democrat who has been at the head of the Czech government for two years, is less Eurosceptic than some of his predecessors and is staunchly opposed to UK plans to cut child benefit for children living outside the UK.
François HollandeFrançois Hollande
The French president, François Hollande, is leading the other camp opposed to the UK deal – eurozone countries that object to giving the UK a veto over deeper integration within the currency union. The French think Britain is trying to win safeguards for the city of London that were rejected by EU leaders at an earlier summit. In 2011 David Cameron used a veto to block an EU treaty to tackle the eurozone crisis, although the rest of the EU went ahead without him.The French president, François Hollande, is leading the other camp opposed to the UK deal – eurozone countries that object to giving the UK a veto over deeper integration within the currency union. The French think Britain is trying to win safeguards for the city of London that were rejected by EU leaders at an earlier summit. In 2011 David Cameron used a veto to block an EU treaty to tackle the eurozone crisis, although the rest of the EU went ahead without him.
Martin SchulzMartin Schulz
When David Cameron embarked on his renegotiation bid, he probably did not bargain for the influence of a Social Democrat former bookseller from the German-Dutch-Belgian borderlands. Martin Schulz, the current president of the European parliament who has been an MEP for 22 years, will play a decisive role in forging a deal on Thursday and steering through legislation that must be jointly agreed with MEPs to put the British proposals into EU law.When David Cameron embarked on his renegotiation bid, he probably did not bargain for the influence of a Social Democrat former bookseller from the German-Dutch-Belgian borderlands. Martin Schulz, the current president of the European parliament who has been an MEP for 22 years, will play a decisive role in forging a deal on Thursday and steering through legislation that must be jointly agreed with MEPs to put the British proposals into EU law.
Schulz, who has been carving out a bigger role for the parliament in EU politics, has promised MEPs will move quickly with legislation to bring the British deal into effect, but has said he cannot guarantee the result. “This is not possible in a democracy,” he said.Schulz, who has been carving out a bigger role for the parliament in EU politics, has promised MEPs will move quickly with legislation to bring the British deal into effect, but has said he cannot guarantee the result. “This is not possible in a democracy,” he said.