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EU summit: 'Still no deal' as David Cameron arrives for second day – live | EU summit: 'Still no deal' as David Cameron arrives for second day – live |
(35 minutes later) | |
11.22am GMT | |
11:22 | |
Downing Street sources told the Guardian’s Nicholas Watt, that they are in a “hinterland” where there could be a deal on Friday but there may not be one. “There could be a deal today or maybe there won’t one,” one No 10 source said. “We are in a hinterland.” | |
In the event of a late deal the prime minister is prepared to hold a cabinet meeting on Friday evening or on Saturday. Tusk has said the summit could last until Sunday although this was being discounted by British officials. | |
One official told PA that discussions on French concerns about financial regulation as “significant”. | |
But he added: “Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed. | |
“We are still here, we are still talking, so in that sense we are moving forwards. Is there a specific deal on a specific area? No.” | |
Cameron was ready to keep talking into the evening if necessary, and could still call a special Cabinet meeting in the evening if a deal was reached, said officials. | |
Asked how the UK responded to a suggestion from Tusk that the Council summit may have to be extended to Sunday to secure agreement, British officials said: “What matters is that we get the right deal, it doesn’t matter how long it takes.” | |
UK officials denied they were disappointed with the pace of progress, insisting: “We always thought this was going to be really tough.” | |
Tusk is expected to conclude one-on-one talks with national leaders by early afternoon, at which point he will assess whether he has a text worth putting before them for discussion between all 28. | |
11.15am GMT | |
11:15 | |
Cameron: 'we're happy to stay till Sunday' | |
Cameron says the talks could last till Sunday, according to the BBC’s Katya Adler in Brussels. | |
In aside to press, Cameron says: We're happy to stay till Sunday. I've told the wife and children #EUCO | |
More timetable updates from Jennifer Rankin in Brussels. | |
David Cameron is meeting Donald Tusk for bilateral talks, then Matteo Renzi, before full #EUCO discussion at 1.30. | |
Donald Tusk has apparently said he is ready to stay until Sunday, although EU sources still hopeful of a teatime deal #EUCO | |
11.09am GMT | |
11:09 | |
Deal or no deal: what does Cameron want from the EU? This video explains ... | |
11.06am GMT | |
11:06 | |
Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann confirmed that financial regulation remains a key sticking point. | |
The pro-EU thinktank Open Europe quoted him saying: “We want to reach an agreement with Britain but we cannot concede blockage of banking union or Eurozone integration.” | |
Faymann on #Brexit: We want to reach an agreement with Britain but we cannot concede blockage of banking union or Eurozone integration #EUCO | |
Earlier French President François Hollande made clear that France continues to resist a deal on financial regulation which would deliver one rule for eurozone states and another for those which do not use the single currency. | |
The French leader told reporters that he wanted “a financial regulation system which is valid in all parts of Europe, and that there should be no right of veto or prevention”. | |
Hollande said France wanted to ensure that Europe would be able to “fight against speculation and fight against financial crises in the same way and with the same organisations everywhere”. | |
10.53am GMT | |
10:53 | |
There were hopeful noises for Cameron from Estonia’s prime minister, Taavi Roivas. | |
He said he believed it was possible for a fair deal to be agreed on Friday. | |
“We all, of course, pursue our national interests but we should also bear in mind that should Britain leave we all get nothing,” Rovias said on his way into the talks | |
Referring to the British prime minister by his first name, Roivas added: “As Prime Minister of Estonia, I am a firm supporter of reaching an agreement and getting David a deal that he can recommend for the British people to vote for.” | |
10.46am GMT | 10.46am GMT |
10:46 | 10:46 |
No bacon and eggs on the table in talks between Merkel, Hollande and Tspiras. Just biscuits and grapes. | No bacon and eggs on the table in talks between Merkel, Hollande and Tspiras. Just biscuits and grapes. |
Kanzlerin #Merkel trifft zu Beginn des 2. Tages bei EU-Rat Präsident @fhollande und MinPräs @tsipras_eu. #EUCO pic.twitter.com/q4V672So0Z | Kanzlerin #Merkel trifft zu Beginn des 2. Tages bei EU-Rat Präsident @fhollande und MinPräs @tsipras_eu. #EUCO pic.twitter.com/q4V672So0Z |
10.30am GMT | 10.30am GMT |
10:30 | 10:30 |
Luxembourg’s prime minister confirmed that the timetable is slipping say he hopes a deal can be reached “by the end of the afternoon”. | Luxembourg’s prime minister confirmed that the timetable is slipping say he hopes a deal can be reached “by the end of the afternoon”. |
Xavier Bettel, said: “The proposals on the table don’t satisfy all parties. We haven’t finished yet. I hope that by the end of the afternoon we will have a text that everyone can agree.” | Xavier Bettel, said: “The proposals on the table don’t satisfy all parties. We haven’t finished yet. I hope that by the end of the afternoon we will have a text that everyone can agree.” |
So much for Cameron’s plans for a cabinet meeting this afternoon. | So much for Cameron’s plans for a cabinet meeting this afternoon. |
10.24am GMT | 10.24am GMT |
10:24 | 10:24 |
And here’s video of Cameron on his way into the talks. | And here’s video of Cameron on his way into the talks. |
10.12am GMT | 10.12am GMT |
10:12 | 10:12 |
Here’s video of that fighting talk from Hollande on the way into Friday’s talks. | Here’s video of that fighting talk from Hollande on the way into Friday’s talks. |
Updated | Updated |
at 10.31am GMT | at 10.31am GMT |
10.11am GMT | 10.11am GMT |
10:11 | 10:11 |
France’s far right National Front is relishing the prospect of Brexit, writes Bruce Crumley in Paris. | France’s far right National Front is relishing the prospect of Brexit, writes Bruce Crumley in Paris. |
Speaking on France Info radio this morning, Florian Philippot, National Front vice-president and Marine Le Pen soul mate, said: | Speaking on France Info radio this morning, Florian Philippot, National Front vice-president and Marine Le Pen soul mate, said: |
“We’re watching what happens with Great Britain with interest and yearning. It’s a process we’ve proposed for a long time… I say to the British, ‘When you leave this European Union mad house, if you decide to leave it, keep the door open for us because we’ll be using it soon’.” | “We’re watching what happens with Great Britain with interest and yearning. It’s a process we’ve proposed for a long time… I say to the British, ‘When you leave this European Union mad house, if you decide to leave it, keep the door open for us because we’ll be using it soon’.” |
10.08am GMT | 10.08am GMT |
10:08 | 10:08 |
Nicholas Watt | Nicholas Watt |
It is the love-in between unlikely friends that might go some way to helping David Cameron in his EU referendum campaign, writes Nicholas Watt. | It is the love-in between unlikely friends that might go some way to helping David Cameron in his EU referendum campaign, writes Nicholas Watt. |
Charles Michel, the Belgian prime minister who is one of the EU leaders with the greatest suspicions about the UK’s renegotiation plan, is said to have been touched after Cameron presented him with a special present for his newly born baby daughter Jeanne. | Charles Michel, the Belgian prime minister who is one of the EU leaders with the greatest suspicions about the UK’s renegotiation plan, is said to have been touched after Cameron presented him with a special present for his newly born baby daughter Jeanne. |
EU leaders had chipped in for a collective present for Michel’s second child who was born on 21 January. But Cameron presented a special set in French of the Beatrix Potter tales, ensuring that in one corner of Belgium the Tale of Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddle-Duck and Mrs Tiggy-Winkle will live on, according to No 10 sources who confirmed a report in the Times. | EU leaders had chipped in for a collective present for Michel’s second child who was born on 21 January. But Cameron presented a special set in French of the Beatrix Potter tales, ensuring that in one corner of Belgium the Tale of Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddle-Duck and Mrs Tiggy-Winkle will live on, according to No 10 sources who confirmed a report in the Times. |
There were signs on Thursday that Michel, a European federalist deeply committed to the EU’s commitment to forge an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe, may be willing to help the prime minister. Belgium took the lead, in concert with the French, to write into the agreement a legally binding declaration that the deal would be definitive and that Britain would not be able to renegotiate its membership terms after a second referendum. This is helpful to Cameron who wants to kill off the idea of a second referendum promoted by the Vote Leave campaign director Dominic Cummings. | There were signs on Thursday that Michel, a European federalist deeply committed to the EU’s commitment to forge an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe, may be willing to help the prime minister. Belgium took the lead, in concert with the French, to write into the agreement a legally binding declaration that the deal would be definitive and that Britain would not be able to renegotiate its membership terms after a second referendum. This is helpful to Cameron who wants to kill off the idea of a second referendum promoted by the Vote Leave campaign director Dominic Cummings. |
10.03am GMT | 10.03am GMT |
10:03 | 10:03 |
Cameron: 'we're going to do some more work' | Cameron: 'we're going to do some more work' |
“There is still no deal” Cameron said on his way to Friday’s talks. | “There is still no deal” Cameron said on his way to Friday’s talks. |
He reminded reporters that he was up until 5am in talks. | He reminded reporters that he was up until 5am in talks. |
The prime minister added: “I will only do deal if we get what Britain needs, so I’m going to get back in there, we’re going to do some more work and I’ll do everything I can.” | The prime minister added: “I will only do deal if we get what Britain needs, so I’m going to get back in there, we’re going to do some more work and I’ll do everything I can.” |
9.58am GMT | 9.58am GMT |
09:58 | 09:58 |
Full English of dog's breakfast? | Full English of dog's breakfast? |
Negotiations have dragged on so long that what was supposed to be talks over an “English breakfast”, then became “English brunch” and have now become an “English lunch”, PA reports. | Negotiations have dragged on so long that what was supposed to be talks over an “English breakfast”, then became “English brunch” and have now become an “English lunch”, PA reports. |
Initial plans for the two-day European Council summit in Brussels envisaged a round-table discussion on Thursday afternoon, when leaders could set out their reservations about the package, followed by late-night negotiations by officials to cross Ts and dot Is. The process would end with a triumphant restart early on Friday when the deal could be sealed in plenty of time for Mr Cameron to return to London for a special Cabinet meeting to endorse the agreement and launch the campaign for Britain to remain in the EU. | Initial plans for the two-day European Council summit in Brussels envisaged a round-table discussion on Thursday afternoon, when leaders could set out their reservations about the package, followed by late-night negotiations by officials to cross Ts and dot Is. The process would end with a triumphant restart early on Friday when the deal could be sealed in plenty of time for Mr Cameron to return to London for a special Cabinet meeting to endorse the agreement and launch the campaign for Britain to remain in the EU. |
Officials in Brussels blithely referred to the final session as “the English breakfast”, summoning up visions of hungry leaders tucking into a hearty fry-up as they handed the PM his deal. | Officials in Brussels blithely referred to the final session as “the English breakfast”, summoning up visions of hungry leaders tucking into a hearty fry-up as they handed the PM his deal. |
As rumours of dissent around the table began to emerge on Thursday, however, the schedule began to slip and word in the Council’s Justus Lipsius building was that the meeting was turning into an “English brunch”. | As rumours of dissent around the table began to emerge on Thursday, however, the schedule began to slip and word in the Council’s Justus Lipsius building was that the meeting was turning into an “English brunch”. |
Caterers scrambled to dig out waffles, pastries, yoghurt and whatever else it is people eat for brunch, while reporters scratched their heads and wondered if “English brunch” was a thing now and why it was they’d never been invited to one, and whether it meant they’d get an extra couple of hours in bed after a long night of summiteering. | Caterers scrambled to dig out waffles, pastries, yoghurt and whatever else it is people eat for brunch, while reporters scratched their heads and wondered if “English brunch” was a thing now and why it was they’d never been invited to one, and whether it meant they’d get an extra couple of hours in bed after a long night of summiteering. |
But just as the jams and spreads were being laid out this morning, European Council spokesman Preben Aamann tweeted a further delay: “Work ongoing on revised UKinEU settlement. Next round of bilaterals at 11h. ‘English lunch’ foreseen at 13h30.” | But just as the jams and spreads were being laid out this morning, European Council spokesman Preben Aamann tweeted a further delay: “Work ongoing on revised UKinEU settlement. Next round of bilaterals at 11h. ‘English lunch’ foreseen at 13h30.” |
Work ongoing on revised #UKinEU settlement. Next round of bilaterals at 11h. "English lunch" foreseen at 13h30 #EUCO | Work ongoing on revised #UKinEU settlement. Next round of bilaterals at 11h. "English lunch" foreseen at 13h30 #EUCO |
9.45am GMT | 9.45am GMT |
09:45 | 09:45 |
Stephen Burgen | Stephen Burgen |
“The British don’t see themselves as European,” says Begoña Arce, El Periódico’s correspondent in London writes Stephen Burgen in Madrid. | “The British don’t see themselves as European,” says Begoña Arce, El Periódico’s correspondent in London writes Stephen Burgen in Madrid. |
She writes of the British: | She writes of the British: |
When they refer to Europe the UK isn’t included. Europe is “the Continent”. They are “others”, partners with whom to form alliances and enemies against whom they have to defend themselves. Hitler was unable to invade Great Britain, a fact that is borne with pride in the collective conscience.” | When they refer to Europe the UK isn’t included. Europe is “the Continent”. They are “others”, partners with whom to form alliances and enemies against whom they have to defend themselves. Hitler was unable to invade Great Britain, a fact that is borne with pride in the collective conscience.” |