This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2016/feb/18/david-cameron-heads-for-summit-amid-widening-eu-rifts-live-updates

The article has changed 35 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
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)
9.55am GMT
09:55
Donald Tusk has scheduled what aides are calling an “English breakfast” on Friday in hope of a final compromise.
“The negotiations are very advanced and we must make use of the momentum,” he said in an invitation letter to EU leaders.
“There will not be a better time for a compromise.”
The European Council issued a briefing on the summit which included this about Friday’s breakfast:
On Friday morning the heads of state or government will reconvene in an informal working breakfast setting to continue the discussions on a new settlement for the UK in the EU. The President of the European Parliament will be invited to participate in this session.
9.40am GMT
09:40
Labour’s leader Jeremy Corbyn is also heading to Brussels where he is due to meet members of the Party of European Socialists.
Labour List’s Conor Pope reports speculation that the Corbyn will criticise Cameron’s plans to restrict in-work benefits to EU migrants through an emergency brake.
Corbyn's heading to Brussels to speak to @PES_PSE today - rumours he'll use it to attack the emergency brake on benefits for EU migrants.
Looking forward to helping welcome @jeremycorbyn today as he meets @EuroLabour MEPs then briefs @PES_PSE leaders in advance of #EUCO #UKinEU
9.21am GMT9.21am GMT
09:2109:21
David Cameron is due to hold more talks with European Council President Donald Tusk hours before the summit proper gets underway.David Cameron is due to hold more talks with European Council President Donald Tusk hours before the summit proper gets underway.
The meeting with Tusk is scheduled for 3pm CET.The meeting with Tusk is scheduled for 3pm CET.
Following a phone call with Tusk late on Wednesday, Cameron insisted there was a “good basis for agreement”, and UK officials said Britain was “in a good place” going into the summit of 28 national leaders in the European Council.Following a phone call with Tusk late on Wednesday, Cameron insisted there was a “good basis for agreement”, and UK officials said Britain was “in a good place” going into the summit of 28 national leaders in the European Council.
But Tusk warned there was “no guarantee” a deal would be reached.But Tusk warned there was “no guarantee” a deal would be reached.
In an eve-of-summit letter, Tusk told EU leaders: “The negotiations are very advanced and we must make use of the momentum. There will not be a better time for a compromise.”In an eve-of-summit letter, Tusk told EU leaders: “The negotiations are very advanced and we must make use of the momentum. There will not be a better time for a compromise.”
Failure to reach a deal at the European Council gathering would be “a defeat both for the UK and the European Union, but a geopolitical victory for those who seek to divide us”, he warned.Failure to reach a deal at the European Council gathering would be “a defeat both for the UK and the European Union, but a geopolitical victory for those who seek to divide us”, he warned.
UpdatedUpdated
at 9.22am GMTat 9.22am GMT
8.50am GMT8.50am GMT
08:5008:50
Former Labour leader and EU commissioner, Neil Kinnock, says David Cameron appears to have secured the best deal possible.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.”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.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: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.”“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.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.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 GMT8.24am GMT
08:2408:24
Jennifer RankinJennifer 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.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).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.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.4.00pm: Leaders are arrive to arrive at the summit and may give remarks to reporters.
5.00pm: Summit begins5.00pm: Summit begins
5.45-8pm: Talks on the UK’s relations with the EU take place5.45-8pm: Talks on the UK’s relations with the EU take place
8pm: migration debate over dinner8pm: migration debate over dinner
Late: more UK talks expected. Press conferences could follow.Late: more UK talks expected. Press conferences could follow.
FridayFriday
9.00am: Leaders are scheduled to arrive. Bilaterals and more UK talks are expected, but Syria and Libya on the official agenda.9.00am: Leaders are scheduled to arrive. Bilaterals and more UK talks are expected, but Syria and Libya on the official agenda.
UpdatedUpdated
at 8.24am GMTat 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: