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David Cameron heads for summit amid widening EU rifts – live updates David Cameron heads for summit amid widening EU rifts – live updates
(35 minutes later)
8.50am GMT
08:50
Former Labour leader and EU commissioner, Neil Kinnock, says David Cameron appears to have secured the best deal possible.
Speaking on the Today programme Kinnock said: “He [Cameron] has secured, by dint of using a great deal of energy, pretty much what was possible to be secured. And the value of it is clarification in very important areas in our relationship with the rest of the EU.”
Kinnock said Cameron should learn from Margaret Thatcher’s approach to Europe by lobbying for reform as an active member of EU.
Referring to his former political adversary Kinnock said:
“Her commitment in the European Union was very firm. The commission that she gave to our civil servants inside what was then the European Community was ‘get the best possible deal’. And of course significant deals and changes were secured by means of negotiation strenuously, firmly, fairly from the inside and getting those deals. If it is reform you are after, you are better doing it as a very very engaged partner rather than a potential divorcee.”
Kinnock said it was in Britain’s interests to remain in the EU. “We need them more than they need us,” he said.
And he warned referendum voters not to be sidetracked by the details of the deal being negotiated in Brussels. “The real question is whether those details are so substantial as to propels towards an absolutely unknown uncertain future,” he said.
8.24am GMT
08:24
Jennifer Rankin
Cameron faces a crucial 24 hours ahead. Jennifer Rankin in Brussels has a rundown of some of the events. Expecting a long night, she warns.
All timings are local time (subtract an hour for GMT).
11.30am: Jean-Claude Juncker, European commission president, and Martin Schulz, president of the European parliament are due to give a press conference.
4.00pm: Leaders are arrive to arrive at the summit and may give remarks to reporters.
5.00pm: Summit begins
5.45-8pm: Talks on the UK’s relations with the EU take place
8pm: migration debate over dinner
Late: more UK talks expected. Press conferences could follow.
Friday
9.00am: Leaders are scheduled to arrive. Bilaterals and more UK talks are expected, but Syria and Libya on the official agenda.
Updated
at 8.24am GMT
8.11am GMT8.11am GMT
08:1108:11
There’s a good chance that the passages marked in square brackets signalling disagreement in the leaked draft text, can been agreed, according Roberto Gualtieri MEP one of the main “sherpas” on the negotiations.There’s a good chance that the passages marked in square brackets signalling disagreement in the leaked draft text, can been agreed, according Roberto Gualtieri MEP one of the main “sherpas” on the negotiations.
Speaking to the Today programmed he said: “I think there are good chances in general to drop the brackets but of course this is not guaranteed. And that will be a big part of the negotiations.”Speaking to the Today programmed he said: “I think there are good chances in general to drop the brackets but of course this is not guaranteed. And that will be a big part of the negotiations.”
He added: “At the highest level there is a awareness that a deal is important.”He added: “At the highest level there is a awareness that a deal is important.”
7.58am GMT7.58am GMT
07:5807:58
Tory MEP Daniel Hannan dismissed the proposed deal and warned that any changes could be unpicked by the European Parliament in future, PA reports.Tory MEP Daniel Hannan dismissed the proposed deal and warned that any changes could be unpicked by the European Parliament in future, PA reports.
The Eurosceptic South East England MEP told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme:The Eurosceptic South East England MEP told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme:
“I don’t know of any MEPs or Eurocrats in private who think that this is a fundamental change. All of the sound and fury, all of the negotiations, have come down to amending one directive - which we could have done at any time without needing any renegotiation.“I don’t know of any MEPs or Eurocrats in private who think that this is a fundamental change. All of the sound and fury, all of the negotiations, have come down to amending one directive - which we could have done at any time without needing any renegotiation.
“Privately, the Eurocrats were whooping and high-fiving and turning cartwheels because so little has been asked for.”“Privately, the Eurocrats were whooping and high-fiving and turning cartwheels because so little has been asked for.”
An unnamed source told The Times that when MEPs begin looking at the deal it could be like “monkeys with guns”, and Hannan said: “They certainly can be simian, occasionally, in their behaviour.An unnamed source told The Times that when MEPs begin looking at the deal it could be like “monkeys with guns”, and Hannan said: “They certainly can be simian, occasionally, in their behaviour.
“I think that they will pass this deal, because they will be told to by their party leaders, but they can then un-pass it the following year because it isn’t a constitutional change, it is just one amendment.”“I think that they will pass this deal, because they will be told to by their party leaders, but they can then un-pass it the following year because it isn’t a constitutional change, it is just one amendment.”
7.51am GMT7.51am GMT
07:5107:51
Welcome to live coverage as David Cameron and a “war room of lawyers” prepare for a crunch summit in Brussels on Britain’s relation with the European Union.Welcome to live coverage as David Cameron and a “war room of lawyers” prepare for a crunch summit in Brussels on Britain’s relation with the European Union.
The prime minister insisted there was a “good basis for agreement” but a draft text of the deal leaked to the Guardian reveals he has failed to secure one of his key demands.The prime minister insisted there was a “good basis for agreement” but a draft text of the deal leaked to the Guardian reveals he has failed to secure one of his key demands.
European Council president Donald Tusk, who opens the summit at 5.45pm, has also warned there was “no guarantee” a deal would be reached.European Council president Donald Tusk, who opens the summit at 5.45pm, has also warned there was “no guarantee” a deal would be reached.
Here’s a summary of how things currently stand:Here’s a summary of how things currently stand: