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EU summit: UK officials report 'tough going' in talks on deal – live EU summit: 'a lot still to be done' on UK deal, says Tusk – live
(about 3 hours later)
12.35am GMT 3.19am GMT
00:35 03:19
Nicholas Watt Good news for fans of exceedingly drawn-out negotiations and days-long live blogs: Dutch PM Mark Rutte says the talks on a UK deal might run into Saturday:
The Guardian’s Nicholas Watt sends this dispatch from Brussels: Premier Rutte sluit niet uit dat er tot zaterdag wordt onderhandeld over Brexit #mooiperszaaltje pic.twitter.com/IZXDUEkmaN
Martin Schulz, president of the European parliament, has indicated that the parliament is prepared to fight British plans to impose restrictions on in-work benefits for EU migrants on the grounds they are discriminatory. 3.09am GMT
In a speech to the European Council, in which he warned that Britain would “drift into the insignificant backwaters of the world political scene” if it left the EU, Schulz said Britain was planning to discriminate between EU citizens. 03:09
Schulz highlighted the way in which EU migrants could receive different rates of pay for the same job under an emergency brake offered by the European Commission. The brake would allow Britain to deny in-work benefits during an EU migrant’s first year in Britain and then to introduce them gradually over the next three years. The full text of the European council conclusions on migration is now available here.
Schulz told EU leaders: Some key lines:
This ‘safeguard mechanism’ would mean that two workers, both EU nationals, paying the same taxes, doing the same work, would for a certain time not be paid the same. Allow me to say this very clearly: the European Parliament will fight discrimination between EU citizens. Non-discrimination and equal treatment are fundamental principles of our union. 2.47am GMT
If a deal is reached among EU leaders, the European parliament would have to approve the secondary legislation needed to put the emergency brake on a legal footing. 02:47
Schulz also used his speech to warn of the dangers of a British exit from the EU: Angela Merkel has held a press conference in which she discussed the agreement among EU leaders to meet with Turkey in March in a further attempt to resolve Europe’s migration crisis:
If we Europeans part ways, labouring under the fond illusion that, now of all times, the finest hour of the nation state has arrived, we should make no mistake about the consequences. We will be left to drift into the insignificant backwaters of the world political scene. The important statement for me today is that we have not only reaffirmed the EU-Turkey action plan, but we have said it is our priority.
A spokesman for Vote Leave said: Merkel said Austria backed the EU-Turkey plan, despite its unilateral decision to introduce daily caps on migrants:
Schulz had let the cat out of the bag over what the EU really thinks about the renegotiation. With David Cameron’s deal having the legal weight of an unsigned contract the agreement will be quickly ignored or overridden. That makes voting remain on the basis of this deal a huge risk. In Europe we are all always partners.
12.22am GMT You can read more on the Austrian plan to introduce a daily limit of 80 asylum claims here:
00:22 Related: Austria dismisses criticism of its plan to limit daily refugee numbers
For those readers champing to hear news of the next round of bilateral talks, due to be happening right around now … patience is advised: 2.26am GMT
no where near #brexit bilaterals, dinner is still going on.. #3shirtsummit #pray4sherpas #euco 02:26
12.19am GMT David Cameron’s meeting with Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker continues – we don’t know what they’re saying but the body language is interesting enough:
00:19 It also looks likely that German chancellor Angela Merkel and French president François Hollande will meet separately – though reportedly not until the more civilised hour of 10am Friday.
What are the sticking points? 2.08am GMT
Reports from Brussels suggest talks on migration are proving particularly difficult to reach agreement. 02:08
But this is just one of four key questions that need to be thrashed out: Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy doesn’t share his Italian counterpart’s pessimism on the UK/EU talks:
Emergency brake I think it is going well. I hope that tomorrow we will have a deal.
How long could Britain impose the emergency brake to restrict in-work benefits for EU migrants in the UK? This has been complicated by questions over whether other member countries might want to adopt the scheme.
Curbs on benefits
There is disagreement – particularly from Poland – over UK efforts to restrict child benefit paid to EU workers within the UK whose children live in their home country. Also a bone of contention is whether any curbs should be applied retrospectively to EU migrants already in the UK.
‘Ever-closer union’
Britain wants a treaty change to formalise the UK’s exemption from the EU’s founding declaration to forge an ever-closer union among the peoples of Europe. Some countries think the formal opt-out should be sufficient.
Financial regulation
The UK seeks a further treaty change to underpin protections for non-eurozone members in the single market – opposed by France, which is said to see the move as a restriction on the eurozone and “special protection” for the City of London.
12.06am GMT
00:06
While we wait (and wait) for progress in the crunch talks, why not try our massively scientific and conclusive quiz to discover how EU you really are:
Related: How EU are you? Brexit or bust? Take our definitive referendum quiz
11.35pm GMT
23:35
Caroline Lucas, the UK Green party MP, says the forthcoming referendum on UK membership of the EU “should kickstart a movement in Britain to make membership of the European Union work even better for all of us”.
She also called for EU meetings to be more transparent and (a request echoed by live bloggers everywhere) for council meetings to be live streamed.
Lucas said:
Though I’m a strong supporter of the EU I do believe it should be more democratic and transparent.
These negotiations – which are being conducted behind closed doors in Brussels and through tactical press briefings – aren’t a good advert for the EU.
EU Council meetings should be live streamed and open for Europeans to watch – thus ensuring that the politicians who represent us are also accountable to us.
UpdatedUpdated
at 11.52pm GMT at 2.09am GMT
11.22pm GMT 2.01am GMT
23:22 02:01
Claire Phipps EU-Turkey migration summit on 5 March
Hello, this is Claire Phipps picking up the live blog reins from Ben Quinn. Some more details on what is, so far, the only breakthrough of the evening: a special summit between EU leaders and Turkey to attempt to resolve the migration crisis.
As talks in Brussels tip into Friday morning, European leaders are expected to peel off to their beds within the next few hours. Lawyers and representatives will continue through the night, with full discussions resuming in the morning – though it could be as late as 11am CET (10am GMT) before the leaders are back round the table. Reuters reports that the meeting has been pencilled in for 5 March.
But the sense still seems to be that a deal this weekend is the preferred option over an inconclusive outcome and a further summit in the next few weeks. So … watch this space. Turkish PM Ahmet Davutoglu is not in Brussels, following Wednesday’s bomb attack in Ankara.
10.55pm GMT 1.56am GMT
22:55 01:56
Ukip leader Nigel Farage has popped up on BBC Newsnight, with a Brussels backdrop behind him and a caricature of David Cameron in mind. The Irish taoiseach, Enda Kenny, also indicates that not everyone is heading to bed just yet:
“He’s rather like Oliver Twist. He has come along with his begging bowl , saying: ‘please sir, can we have more concessions?’ ” said Farage. Discussion on Europe's migration crisis just concluded - bi-laterals on #UKinEU settlement will continue though the night here in Brussels.
“Most of what you are seeing here is theatre. It’s theatre from Mr Cameron and it’s theatre from the other leaders,” added Farage, who predicted that an agreement would be presented earlier tomorrow. 1.53am GMT
01:53
Renzi 'less optimistic' about UK deal
Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi said he was less optimistic than before about a European Union deal on new membership terms for Britain after some backward steps occurred on the first day of an EU summit, Reuters reports.
Speaking to reporters early on Friday after hours of summit debate on Britain’s reform demands and the EU’s migration crisis, Renzi said there had been “some timid steps forward on migration, some steps back on a UK deal”.
Asked whether he still believed a deal with Britain would be possible on Friday, he said:
I’m always confident, but a bit less optimistic than when I arrived.
1.49am GMT
01:49
2.45am Friday, to be precise … Strong coffee to follow.
First bilateral this night with PM @David_Cameron and @JunckerEU on new #UKinEU settlement pic.twitter.com/qcCDuUi5lf
1.45am GMT
01:45
Tusk will move on to talks with British prime minister David Cameron, French president François Hollande, Czech PM Bohuslav Sobotka and Belgian PM Charles Michel on Friday:
On #UKinEU I will now hold a series of bilateral meetings starting with @David_Cameron, @fhollande, @SlavekSobotka, @CharlesMichel.
UpdatedUpdated
at 11.18pm GMT at 2.04am GMT
10.45pm GMT 1.41am GMT
22:45 01:41
Here’s a summary of how things stand at the moment: 'A lot still to be done' on UK deal, says Tusk
• David Cameron embarked on the biggest gamble of his premiership on Thursday evening, as he sought to put Britain’s place in Europe on a permanently new footing at an EU summit in Brussels.If he failed to strike an agreement at the meeting of 28 heads of government that was expected to run through the night, he would not be given a second chance, EU leaders warned Britain. On the UK deal negotiations, Tusk adds:
• The European council president, Donald Tusk, described the summit as “make-or-break summit.” According to a leaked version of the draft deal seen by the Guardian, differences are widening rather than narrowing, with UK desire for treaty change on a key economic issue now confined to square brackets, the device used in international negotiations to show there is no agreement on the issue. For now I can only say that we have made some progress but a lot still remains to be done.
• In the first session of talks on Thursday evening in Brussels, Britain made a “surprise” bid to extend the proposed “emergency brake” on welfare payments to non-British citizens for a total of 13 years, according to a report by the news agency Bloomberg.The period requested is longer than had originally been proposed, and leaders from eastern European nations said they would accept an emergency brake lasting no more than five years. He doesn’t take questions from waiting reporters but tells them:
• Jeremy Corbyn has attacked David Cameron’s emergency brake on migrant benefits as ineffectual, as he branded the whole renegotiation a “theatrical sideshow”.The Labour leader said there was no evidence that the proposed emergency brake on in-work benefits would have any effect on reducing immigration to the UK. Thank you and I wish you a good and long night.
Updated Juncker doesn’t speak about the UK talks.
at 10.46pm GMT 1.39am GMT
10.33pm GMT 01:39
22:33 Donald Tusk says the EU leaders have agreed conclusions on migration.
Even with a potentially long night ahead of him, and further talks tomorrow morning, David Cameron has to continue keeping an eye over his shoulder at how his performance is being viewed in his own party. An action plan with Turkey remains the priority, and a meeting should take place in March.
Here’s one of the Tory party’s most vocal and effective Eurosceptics with some helpful commentary on his leader’s actions in Brussels: Our discussion in this critical moment of the migration crisis has only reinforced our commitment to building a European consensus.
Why is the PM in such a hurry to hold the vote by June? Because he knows that the euro and Schengen crises will only get worse. #VoteLeave On migration, there is no good alternative to a comprehensive European plan. We must look for a synthesis of different approaches.
Updated A European solution on migration is about decisions taken in capitals but we must improve the coordination of those decisions.
at 10.59pm GMT We need to get back to a situation where all members of the Schengen area fully apply the Schengen borders code.
10.21pm GMT
22:21
That earlier report from Bloomberg that Cameron has requested a longer than anticipated ‘emergency brake clause’ (13 years) on the issue of social welfare benefits for some EU workers in Britain is being carried by other outlets now.
It’s going to be a tough one for eastern European and Baltic states in particular to stomach
That's a significantly long period - longer than Baltic countries and Eastern Europeans happy with or expected from sounds of things
Updated
at 10.44pm GMT
9.59pm GMT
21:59
Friday’s newspaper front pages are coming in now.
The Guardian splashes on how the Brussels summit has started with several key issues unresolved, and how David Cameron will have “one chance” to strike a deal
No second chance for CameronTomorrow's Guardian pic.twitter.com/4gY7Np75cx
The Telegraph leads on the letter from business leaders in Britain who are backing a vote to keep the UK in the EU
Friday's Telegraph front page:FTSE Chiefs' Yes to Europe#tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers #euref pic.twitter.com/A2DGny6rAF
The International New York Times makes space for a piece which says that the EU is facing crises which “chip at its ideals” (again?)
Friday's International NY TimesHard choices face E.U. as crises chip at its ideals#tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers pic.twitter.com/62rsNMIJZm
The Times splashes on EU leaders letting Britain that he has “one shot” at securing a deal
Friday's Times front page:This is your last chance, EU leaders tell Britain#tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers #euref pic.twitter.com/nk65buYZU8
The Daily Mail’s splash describes events in Brussels as a “shambles” and the deal between the UK and other member states as “watered down”
Friday's Daily Mail:Face that says it all#tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers #euref pic.twitter.com/aRxvukNX2f
Updated
at 10.26pm GMT
9.53pm GMT
21:53
A guide to three approximate camps of EU leaders, and where they stand on the UK’s renegotiation attempts, has been put together by the Guardian’s Jennifer Rankin.
The awkward squad
Includes:
Beata Szydło, Poland
Leading opposition to benefit changes and other measures that could affect Poles living in the UK. Ready to make some concessions on welfare benefits, but only if there is guarantees that restrictions on child benefit will not copied by other countries and applied to other areas, such as pensions.
Bohuslav Sobotka, Czech Republic
A social democrat, he is less Eurosceptic than some of his predecessors but and is staunchly opposed to UK plans to cut child benefit for children living outside Britain.
François Hollande, France
The president has not made many public interventions into the British debate, but behind the scenes French officials have played a vital role in watering down the British text.
Klaus Werner Iohannis, Romania
A former physics teacher, the president is a stern opponent of treating Romanians in the UK differently to British nationals.
The allies
Includes:
Angela Merkel, Germany
A vital ally. The German chancellor has said she shares Cameron’s view that non-eurozone countries should not be sidelined and that member states should be able to protect their benefits systems.
Enda Kenny, Ireland
Dublin is seeking to ensure that Irish citizens are not included in any emergency brake, to reflect the ancient ties between Britain and Ireland.
Werner Faymann, Austria
The Austrian chancellor is facing calls to introduce a local version of the emergency brake that would allow Vienna to stop paying EU migrants’ benefits.
In the middle
Includes:
Stefan Löfven, Sweden
While Sweden is traditional ally of the UK in the councils of Brussels, its centre-left government is wary that some of British proposals on cutting red tape could weaken employment rights.
Nicos Anastasiades, Cyprus
Cyprus has to trade off its role as a traditional British ally, against multibillion-euro bailouts it has received as a member of the eurozone.
Joseph Muscat, Malta
Another small country. The island of Malta has the smallest population in the EU, with just 429,000 people, which makes it smaller than Manchester, but still a player at EU summits.
Updated
at 10.13pm GMT
9.34pm GMT
21:34
ITV’s political editor Robert Peston has reiterated – as reported by the Guardian earlier – that EU leaders are preparing to state that there would be no fresh negotiations about membership if the UK votes to leave the union.
It’s believed David Cameron will not object to this “the deal is the deal” statement in the summit text.
Peston adds:
It is in the prime minister’s interest of course for the referendum stakes to be – if not life or death – well unambiguously about whether we stay or go.
His best chance of winning the vote is to persuade us that it really really will decide whether we stay or remain.
Updated
at 12.01am GMT
9.31pm GMT
21:31
The disclosure before the crucial European Union summit that the number of citizens of other EU countries working in Britain had risen above the 2 million mark for the last six months was widely reported as bad news for David Cameron.
The Guardian’s home affairs editor, Alan Travis, writes, however, that behind unfounded headlines about “EU migrants grabbing British jobs” lies a basic truth: that mass European migration is actually fuelling the relative growth of the UK economy that in turn is making Britain “the jobs factory of Europe”.
For while some politicians chose only to focus on the growth of EU citizens employed in Britain, they ignored the fact that the same set of official statistics – the quarterly labour market survey – showed that record numbers of British citizens were in work too.
Indeed, 1 million more Britons are in work and 850,000 more Europeans are working in Britain since David Cameron became prime minister.
The fact of the matter is that the story of EU migration to work in Britain should not be seen as a sudden, recent mass invasion to be necessarily feared by every British worker. It is now a fact of life that Britain has been a country of net mass migration every year for the past 20 years
Read on here
Updated
at 10.45pm GMT
9.28pm GMT
21:28
The talks among leaders about migration is likely to be a short one, according to the Guardian’s Jennifer Rankin.
Attempts to stave off a Brexit, it seems, are taking taking priority tonight
Debate on migration not expected to be a long one: "they see the iceberg of #brexit and they don't want to be diverted", says source. #EUCO