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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 GMT10.46am GMT
10:4610:46
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/q4V672So0ZKanzlerin #Merkel trifft zu Beginn des 2. Tages bei EU-Rat Präsident @fhollande und MinPräs @tsipras_eu. #EUCO pic.twitter.com/q4V672So0Z
10.30am GMT10.30am GMT
10:3010:30
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 GMT10.24am GMT
10:2410:24
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 GMT10.12am GMT
10:1210:12
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.
UpdatedUpdated
at 10.31am GMTat 10.31am GMT
10.11am GMT10.11am GMT
10:1110:11
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 GMT10.08am GMT
10:0810:08
Nicholas WattNicholas 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 GMT10.03am GMT
10:0310:03
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 GMT9.58am GMT
09:5809:58
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 #EUCOWork ongoing on revised #UKinEU settlement. Next round of bilaterals at 11h. "English lunch" foreseen at 13h30 #EUCO
9.45am GMT9.45am GMT
09:4509:45
Stephen BurgenStephen 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.”
9.40am GMT
09:40
French President François Hollande arrived for the second day of talks “saying there still work to do”. He said there must be one set of rules “to fight against [financial] speculation”.
France is concerned that the UK is seeking to carve out special protections for the City of London and seeking to freeze rules governing the financial sector, effectively hobbling the eurozone’s freedom of manoeuvre. EU sources told the Guardian that Hollande would go on the attack over financial regulation.
“Proposals have been exchanged last night between both sides”, Hollande said on his way into Friday’s talks.
Hollande says France wants EU financial regulation to apply everywhere in order to “fight speculation and crises” with “no veto rights”.
9.20am GMT
09:20
A cartoon in Süeddeutsche Zeitung sums up German frustration at the repeated problem of British demands at EU summits.
"Same procedure as every year, David" pic.twitter.com/nOzytpeos0
9.16am GMT
09:16
There is a growing frustration among many European politicians that the Brexit discussions are dominating the summit at the expense of discussions about the migration crisis.
Alain Lamassoure, centre-right EMP and former French secretary of state for European, was dismissive of the UK negotiations, writes Bruce Crumley in Paris.
In an invterview with Echos he said:
This is indeed a problem for the (European) Union, but it’s above all a problem of the first order for the British. Europe’s major problem is the migrant crisis, as the euro was (before). And our experience has demonstrated the Council cannot deal with two problems at once. We will therefore lose time discussing problems that are in fact internal to politics in Great Britain and no solution will be found for the migrant crisis… It’s above all a grave problem for the British.
9.06am GMT
09:06
Here’s video from last night of German chancellor Angela Merkel saying the European Union leaders wants to keep Britain as a member.
8.43am GMT
08:43
‘Deal out of reach at the moment’
Energy Secretary Amber Rudd insisted it is premature to say whether David Cameron’s proposals are being watered down as she insisted that he would not be rushed into a deal.
“It is too early to conclude that it is a watering down of the deal that was proposed two weeks ago,” she told the Today programme, adding “we are not going to be rushed.”
Rudd said: “There are various elements moving around, we will have to wait and see to find out where they finally land.”
She played down expectations that there would be deal today. Rudd said: “What the prime minster has said is that we are making progress, but that the deal is out of reach at the moment. I don’t think we can underestimate how difficult it is to get 27 member states to agree. And he has always said this is about getting the best deal not a rushed deal. What I want is a deal that is really in our country’s interest.”
She confirmed that a “fight is going on” on the timing of Britain’s proposed emergency brake on benefits.
Updated
at 9.25am GMT
8.18am GMT
08:18
Douglas Carswell, Ukip’s only MP, is looking ahead to the referendum. In a new blogpost he calls for a broad coalition for the leave campaign:
It’s because the EU will never stop centralising that the stakes are so high. This referendum isn’t just In or Out; it’s now or never.
The important thing in the Leave campaign is that Leave wins. It doesn’t matter who leads it. It doesn’t matter who said what about which campaign group. It doesn’t matter who takes the credit.
Instead of focusing on the few big names, we need to look toward the many. To win the referendum, we need to build a broad coalition of voters – bigger than any political party has assembled in recent history. If the campaign is narrow and sectional, we will lose.
We need multiple voices to reach out to people of multiple different backgrounds and opinions. We have to emphasise that people who disagree on everything else should vote Leave to ensure that those disagreements are thrashed out in a democratic, sovereign Parliament, not ignored by remote officials. Above all, we need to be positive, and show that Britain will be better off out.
8.10am GMT
08:10
Ukip leader Nigel Farage is trying to make the most of Cameron’s difficulties at the summit. Speaking to Today he said:
“I simply cannot believe that at some point today Mr Cameron will not get some concessions out of these people because they must know that if Cameron is sent home totally humiliated, Brexit has got that little bit closer.
“We keep doing this. Government after government says we are going to reform the European Union but the problem is the word ‘reform’ in Britain means something completely different here. ‘Reform’ here means pushing on to closer economic and political union.
There will have to be a deal but, frankly, we really are scratching around at the edges here. There is no fundamental renegotiation on offer.”
Updated
at 8.45am GMT
8.05am GMT
08:05
Richard Branson reaffirmed his pro-EU stance as he prepared to unveil Virgin Galactic’s latest spacecraft, PA reports.
The tycoon said “I think it would be a very, very, very, very sad day if British people voted to leave, I think it would be very, very damaging for Great Britain.
“I love Great Britain and I think it would be the start of most likely the break-up of the European Union.”
He told Sky News that his grandfather fought in the First World War and his father in the Second and pointed out there had been no wars within Europe since.
He added: “Having a European Union - there is so many benefits and I just hope sense will prevail when it comes to having the vote on it.”
However Sir Richard said he was “a bit distracted with space” ahead of the roll-out of the successor to the doomed prototype which crashed in October 2014, killing its co-pilot.
8.02am GMT
08:02
Timetable slipping
Matthew Weaver
One of the key “sherpas” in the talks said the negotiations could run into the weekend and that the key sticking point remains the UK’s plans to curb benefits for EU migrants.
Elmar Brok, of European People’s Party and one of three MEP representing the European Parliament in the negotiations, confirmed the timetable is slipping.
He said: “We will have the discussion with Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker at 12.30 (CET) so that means the renegotiations will start afterwards. Before that [there will be] bilaterals with Tusk and Juncker with the leaders of the different nations.”
Asked on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme whether the talks could last into the weekend, he said: “That might be a possibility. But on the other side is the possibility that all these bilaterals could lead to a proposal that is more or less acceptable. It will be relatively fast or relatively long. Nobody knows. That is the question.”
Brok added: “As always in life the most difficult things are done in the last minute.”
He insisted that “major problems are solved” but he explained the key disagreements centred around benefits and the timing of the emergency brake.
Brok said it was possible that there would be a change to the Lisbon treaty to allow the UK to opt out of ever closer union. “It is sad that Britain has an exception from further political integration. Here there is more or less and understanding that it might be possible. It will be clear that Britain as a non-Euro member will have no disadvantages within the internal market. What is being negotiated now by us, by the French and others, is whether it should not have advantages. Whether there is a level playing field. I think this is more or less sorted out.”
Brok said there was less agreement on proposed welfare changes. “We are now in that difficult question of social benefits. If we need an emergency brake, then a brake should not work 13 years. That it is forever in working life for someone, this will be very difficult to accept by eastern European, southern European countries.”
Brok said the aim was to have everything decided before Tusk and Juncker meets members of the European parliament. “That is the aim - they want to talk with the European parliament last because of the special role we play - especially in the social benefit questions. We have to say yes to that otherwise we will have problems in the parliament. We will be asked whether the compromise that is emerging will be acceptable for us.
Updated
at 8.11am GMT
7.23am GMT
07:23
What we know so far
Claire Phipps
Talks in Brussels on the future of the UK within the EU have continued throughout Thursday night into Friday, with British prime minister David Cameron leaving a bilateral meeting at 5.30am CET (4.30am GMT) – giving no word on the progress of the discussions.
Who met with whom?
European Council president – and key broker – Donald Tusk, along with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker held late-night bilateral talks with several leaders crucial to the UK/EU deal:
A proposal, drawn up by the Belgians and supported by the French, seeks to impose a condition that Britain could not try to renegotiate further its terms of membership if it were to vote to leave the EU.
What David Cameron said
Post-bilateral talks, nothing … yet. A Downing Street source told Press Association the night had been “hard going”.
What Donald Tusk said
In a brief press conference in the early hours of Friday, before he headed into bilateral talks with Cameron, Tusk told reporters:
We have made some progress but a lot still remains to be done.
What the other leaders said
Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi said there had been:
some timid steps forward on migration, some steps back on a UK deal …
I’m always confident, but a bit less optimistic than when I arrived.
Finnish PM Juha Sipilä suggested an agreement would be struck by Friday:
The European Council debate on migration is coming to an end. Then UK negotiations continue. The project should be ready by morning.
Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy said:
I think it is going well. I hope that tomorrow [Friday] we will have a deal.
But Dutch PM Mark Rutte raised the possibility of talks on a UK deal running into Saturday and Irish taoiseach Enda Kenny warned:
It might take longer than they think.
And German chancellor Angela Merkel said discussions on Europe’s migration crisis were the “priority” for the summit:
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.
What happens next?
Full discussions between the leaders are due to resume around 9.30am CET (8.30am GMT), with bilateral talks expected to start again around 11am local time.
Before that, a number of spin-off talks are slated to take place, including between Angela Merkel, François Hollande and Alexis Tsipras.
A fresh draft deal could be tabled by late morning. And then, importantly, it’s lunch at 1.30pm.
The big question
Where did the union flag go? From the discussion on Thursday …
… to the dead-of-night talks in the early hours of Friday.
Answers on a postcard with a stamp bearing Her Majesty’s head, please.
I’m now signing out and handing this live blog over to my colleague Matthew Weaver, who’ll bring you the latest with talks set to resume in Brussels.