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Cameron faces off with 27 EU leaders in ‘battle for Britain’ Cameron faces off with 27 EU leaders in ‘battle for Britain’
(about 1 hour later)
BRUSSELS — Prime Minister David Cameron faced off Thursday against the 27 other European Union leaders, telling them to grant his country a new deal to settle the festering issue of their relationship or face a possible divorce as soon as this summer.BRUSSELS — Prime Minister David Cameron faced off Thursday against the 27 other European Union leaders, telling them to grant his country a new deal to settle the festering issue of their relationship or face a possible divorce as soon as this summer.
Cameron said he was “battling for Britain” at a Brussels summit — and for a less intrusive EU that would benefit other countries, too. But French President Francois Hollande struck a cautionary note, warning that no individual leader should be allowed to stop closer European cooperation.Cameron said he was “battling for Britain” at a Brussels summit — and for a less intrusive EU that would benefit other countries, too. But French President Francois Hollande struck a cautionary note, warning that no individual leader should be allowed to stop closer European cooperation.
“It’s the EU in question, not just one country in the EU,” Hollande said as he arrived. “I want Britain to stay in the EU. But I hope most of all that Europe can advance, can be stronger.”“It’s the EU in question, not just one country in the EU,” Hollande said as he arrived. “I want Britain to stay in the EU. But I hope most of all that Europe can advance, can be stronger.”
Cameron is seeking changes to the U.K.-EU relationship that will let him urge Britons to vote “yes” to continued membership in a referendum that could come as early as June. He told his fellow leaders that he needed a substantial deal that would be “credible for the British people.” The British referendum on EU membership is bound to be hard-fought, since few issues in Britain have as much resonance as its relationship with the EU. Cameron is seeking changes to the U.K.-EU relationship that will let him urge Britons to vote “yes” to continued membership in a referendum that could come as early as June.
He told his fellow leaders that he needed a substantial deal that would be “credible for the British people.” The British referendum on EU membership is bound to be hard-fought, since few issues in Britain have as much resonance as its relationship with the EU.
“The question of Britain’s place in Europe has been allowed to fester for too long,” Cameron said, arguing that this was a chance to settle the issue for a generation.“The question of Britain’s place in Europe has been allowed to fester for too long,” Cameron said, arguing that this was a chance to settle the issue for a generation.
Britain, which has one of the strongest economies in Europe, has been a magnet for hundreds of thousands of workers from EU nations in Eastern Europe seeking higher-paying jobs. Britain has no power to stop immigration from other EU nations, leading some in Britain to say that immigrants are taking their jobs. The EU immigrants can also claim unemployment, child care and other benefits in Britain, which the government claims is straining the country’s social services budget. But Britain also warned it would walk away if the deal was not good enough.
Since none of the 27 other leaders has a desire to see Britain leave, there is broad consensus, if not agreement, on a deal which Cameron says he needs to win the referendum. It would give Britain more powers to limit benefit payments to workers from other EU countries for several years — something Britain says will slow the pace of immigration. “If we can get a good deal, I will take that deal. But I will not take a deal that doesn’t meet what we need,” Cameron said.
The deal also offers guarantees to countries, including Britain, that do not use the shared euro currency, and makes tweaks aimed at boosting competitiveness and giving national parliaments more power. A British official said the 28 leaders’ first discussion session Thursday ended without a breakthrough.
“I don’t think there was any sense that gaps in key issues had narrowed,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door talks. “There’s a lot of hard work to do overnight.”
Talks among diplomats and lawyers to nail down the final details of a U.K. deal were expected to go into the early hours Friday before a hoped-for agreement.
Britain, which has one of the strongest economies in Europe, has been a magnet for hundreds of thousands of workers from eastern EU nations who are seeking higher-paying jobs. Britain has no power to stop immigration from other EU nations, leading some in Britain to say that immigrants are taking their jobs. The EU immigrants can also claim unemployment, child care and other benefits in Britain, which Cameron’s government says is straining the country’s social services budget.
Since none of the 27 other leaders wants to see Britain leave, there is broad consensus, if not agreement, on a deal which Cameron says he needs to win the referendum. It would give Britain more powers to limit benefit payments to workers from other EU countries for several years — something Britain says will slow the pace of immigration. The draft deal also offers guarantees to countries, including Britain, that do not use the shared euro currency, and makes tweaks aimed at boosting competitiveness and giving national parliaments more power.
But differences remain on key details, including Britain’s wish to be exempted from the EU’s longstanding aim of “ever closer union.”But differences remain on key details, including Britain’s wish to be exempted from the EU’s longstanding aim of “ever closer union.”
EU President Donald Tusk cautioned that a deal was not certain. One European official said a main source of tension was the length of time Britain’s limit on welfare benefits would last, with the Czech Republic opposing the U.K.’s aim of seven years. The official spoke on condition of anonymity, since the discussions were not public.
“This is a make-or-break summit, I have no doubts,” he said. The lingering disputes belie the fact that the other member states cherish Britain as an economic and diplomatic giant in a struggling EU.
The lingering disputes over everything from the reinforcement of national sovereignty to child benefits belie the fact that the other member states cherish Britain as an economic and diplomatic giant in a struggling EU.
“I’m going into this debate with the position that we would like to do everything to create the conditions so that Great Britain can remain part of the European Union,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said.“I’m going into this debate with the position that we would like to do everything to create the conditions so that Great Britain can remain part of the European Union,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said.
But continuing differences reveal an uneasy relationship. Cameron argues for a “live and let live” union in which some countries move ever closer together while others remain semi-detached. That grates against the wishes of France, Germany and others who believe strongly in an “ever closer union” among as many members as possible. But continuing differences remain. Cameron argues for a “live and let live” union in which some countries move ever closer together while others remain semi-detached. That grates against the wishes of France, Germany and others who believe strongly in an “ever closer union” among as many members as possible.
Britain has long been a half-hearted member of the EU, staying out of both the euro currency and the passport-free Schengen travel zone. The perception of increasing Brussels meddling in affairs many Britons long considered sovereign issues made the time ripe for a referendum. Britain has long been a half-hearted member of the EU, staying out of both the euro currency and the passport-free Schengen travel zone. The perception of increasing Brussels meddling in affairs many Britons considered sovereign issues made the time ripe for a U.K. referendum.
Cameron said he would not stop other EU members striving for more unity, but insisted Britain should have ironclad guarantees that it could stay on the sidelines. He hinted he would walk away from the summit unless a deal met his demands for more sovereign decision-making for member states. Cameron said he would not stop other EU members striving for more unity, but insisted Britain should have ironclad guarantees that it could stay on the sidelines.
“If we can get a good deal, I will take that deal. But I will not take a deal that doesn’t meet what we need,” he said.
Cameron has lobbied relentlessly for months, visiting 20 EU nations and speaking to all the other leaders to bring the EU to the cusp of an agreement many had thought impossible. But even if he gets a deal, he will face loud opposition from anti-EU forces at home, including many members of his own Conservative Party.Cameron has lobbied relentlessly for months, visiting 20 EU nations and speaking to all the other leaders to bring the EU to the cusp of an agreement many had thought impossible. But even if he gets a deal, he will face loud opposition from anti-EU forces at home, including many members of his own Conservative Party.
U.K. Independence Party leader Nigel Farage, who wants Britain to leave the EU, said the changes Cameron was seeking were trivial.U.K. Independence Party leader Nigel Farage, who wants Britain to leave the EU, said the changes Cameron was seeking were trivial.
“It’s not worth a row of beans, whatever he gets,” Farage told the AP in Brussels on Thursday. “It’s not worth a row of beans, whatever he gets,” Farage said.
Leaders discussed Cameron’s demands Thursday evening before a dinner devoted to Europe’s urgent migrant crisis. Talks among diplomats and lawyers to nail down the final details of a U.K. deal were expected to go late into the night before a hoped-for agreement on Friday.
As she arrived for the summit, Lithuanian Prime Minister Dalia Grybauskaite saw a long meeting ahead.As she arrived for the summit, Lithuanian Prime Minister Dalia Grybauskaite saw a long meeting ahead.
“Everybody will have (their) own drama, and then we will agree,” she said.“Everybody will have (their) own drama, and then we will agree,” she said.
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Associated Press Writer Angela Charlton in Brussels contributed.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.