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| Cameron cites progress but ‘no deal’ yet in protracted E.U. talks | Cameron cites progress but ‘no deal’ yet in protracted E.U. talks |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| BRUSSELS — The deal was supposed to be sealed Friday over an English breakfast, with British Prime Minister David Cameron celebrating his agreement to help keep the United Kingdom in the European Union as he and fellow E.U. leaders gathered around a table piled high with bacon and beans. | |
| But Cameron’s intention to bend Europe to his will has proved more complicated than expected. | But Cameron’s intention to bend Europe to his will has proved more complicated than expected. |
| As negotiations on a package of British reform proposals continued overnight Thursday, plans for breakfast were pushed back to an English brunch. Then lunch. Then high tea. Late Friday, the presumably famished leaders were preparing to sit down for dinner — and possibly another long night of talks. | As negotiations on a package of British reform proposals continued overnight Thursday, plans for breakfast were pushed back to an English brunch. Then lunch. Then high tea. Late Friday, the presumably famished leaders were preparing to sit down for dinner — and possibly another long night of talks. |
| The leaders’ shifting meal plans could influence whether Britain ultimately stays in the E.U. Cameron is expected to use the fraught talks to demonstrate that he fought to the bitter end with European counterparts to get the best possible deal for Britain and avoid a British exit, dubbed “Brexit,” from the union. | The leaders’ shifting meal plans could influence whether Britain ultimately stays in the E.U. Cameron is expected to use the fraught talks to demonstrate that he fought to the bitter end with European counterparts to get the best possible deal for Britain and avoid a British exit, dubbed “Brexit,” from the union. |
| “I’ll only do a deal if we get what Britain needs,” the prime minister told reporters in Brussels on Friday morning after an all-night negotiating session. “So we’re going to get back in there, we’re going to do some more work, and we’re going to do whatever we can.” | “I’ll only do a deal if we get what Britain needs,” the prime minister told reporters in Brussels on Friday morning after an all-night negotiating session. “So we’re going to get back in there, we’re going to do some more work, and we’re going to do whatever we can.” |
| But already on Friday, British Euroskeptics were lining up to proclaim the stalemated talks as Exhibit A in their portrayal of the E.U. as a hopelessly gridlocked and bureaucratic institution that is beyond hope for serious reform. | |
| [Europe wants Britain to stay in the E.U., but not at any cost] | [Europe wants Britain to stay in the E.U., but not at any cost] |
| British opponents of E.U. membership pounced on the apparently stalled negotiations Friday, describing the body as paralyzed and inept. Nigel Farage, leader of the anti-E.U. U.K. Independence Party, wrote on Twitter that Cameron has “gone from talking about fundamental change to holding out a begging bowl for minor concessions.” | British opponents of E.U. membership pounced on the apparently stalled negotiations Friday, describing the body as paralyzed and inept. Nigel Farage, leader of the anti-E.U. U.K. Independence Party, wrote on Twitter that Cameron has “gone from talking about fundamental change to holding out a begging bowl for minor concessions.” |
| Indeed, the changes under discussion Friday would not fundamentally alter the E.U. But the stakes are high, nonetheless: Cameron has long said he believes that Britain should stay in the E.U. only if the union can be reformed to better serve British interests. Cameron will have to take whatever he gets in Brussels, and make the case to British voters that they should stick with the union in a referendum widely expected this June. | Indeed, the changes under discussion Friday would not fundamentally alter the E.U. But the stakes are high, nonetheless: Cameron has long said he believes that Britain should stay in the E.U. only if the union can be reformed to better serve British interests. Cameron will have to take whatever he gets in Brussels, and make the case to British voters that they should stick with the union in a referendum widely expected this June. |
| Before the talks kicked off on Thursday, officials had acknowledged there would be an element of theater involved in this week’s summit. But the protracted talks Friday appeared to go well beyond theatrics, as officials on both sides reported unexpectedly wide gaps between British and European positions. | Before the talks kicked off on Thursday, officials had acknowledged there would be an element of theater involved in this week’s summit. But the protracted talks Friday appeared to go well beyond theatrics, as officials on both sides reported unexpectedly wide gaps between British and European positions. |
| European officials have uniformly said they want to keep Britain in the club. But they have also bridled at what many regard as a British attempt to blackmail the union into giving the U.K. a special deal. | European officials have uniformly said they want to keep Britain in the club. But they have also bridled at what many regard as a British attempt to blackmail the union into giving the U.K. a special deal. |
| Cameron has proposed four changes: an exemption from Europe’s vow to pursue “ever-closer union”; protections for members that do not use the euro; a national veto over E.U. legislation; and, most controversially, permission to limit benefits paid to immigrants from within the E.U. | Cameron has proposed four changes: an exemption from Europe’s vow to pursue “ever-closer union”; protections for members that do not use the euro; a national veto over E.U. legislation; and, most controversially, permission to limit benefits paid to immigrants from within the E.U. |
| All four measures would loosen the bonds of continental integration, and each has proved a difficult sell for the unanimous agreement that the E.U. requires. The French have pushed back against attempts to weaken financial regulations. Eastern Europeans have called foul on benefit restrictions. The Germans have fretted that abandoning ever-closer union could scupper the European project. | All four measures would loosen the bonds of continental integration, and each has proved a difficult sell for the unanimous agreement that the E.U. requires. The French have pushed back against attempts to weaken financial regulations. Eastern Europeans have called foul on benefit restrictions. The Germans have fretted that abandoning ever-closer union could scupper the European project. |
| [Has Prince William entered Britain’s debate over leaving Europe?] | [Has Prince William entered Britain’s debate over leaving Europe?] |
| Other variables have come into play, as well. Before signing off on a deal, Greek negotiators reportedly want a promise that the E.U. will not shut the country’s northern border to refugees. Such a move, which several E.U. members have advocated, could effectively trap thousands of asylum seekers in Greece and prevent them from reaching the countries in northern Europe where they hope to settle. | Other variables have come into play, as well. Before signing off on a deal, Greek negotiators reportedly want a promise that the E.U. will not shut the country’s northern border to refugees. Such a move, which several E.U. members have advocated, could effectively trap thousands of asylum seekers in Greece and prevent them from reaching the countries in northern Europe where they hope to settle. |
| Despite the obstacles, some E.U. leaders have been outspoken in arguing that all E.U. members will lose out if Britain ends up bolting from a union that has been decades in the making. | Despite the obstacles, some E.U. leaders have been outspoken in arguing that all E.U. members will lose out if Britain ends up bolting from a union that has been decades in the making. |
| Estonia’s prime minister, Taavi Roivas, said Friday morning that he still believed it was possible to reach a deal by day’s end if countries focused on the greater good. | Estonia’s prime minister, Taavi Roivas, said Friday morning that he still believed it was possible to reach a deal by day’s end if countries focused on the greater good. |
| “We all, of course, pursue our national interests. But we should also bear in mind that should Britain leave, we all get nothing,” Roivas said as he arrived for the Friday talks. | “We all, of course, pursue our national interests. But we should also bear in mind that should Britain leave, we all get nothing,” Roivas said as he arrived for the Friday talks. |
| In Britain on Friday, the negotiations were covered round-the-clock by news organizations hungry for the latest indications of which way the talks were headed. | In Britain on Friday, the negotiations were covered round-the-clock by news organizations hungry for the latest indications of which way the talks were headed. |
| Tony Travers, a political analyst at the London School of Economics, said it would be no surprise to British voters that the E.U. was having trouble reaching a deal. | Tony Travers, a political analyst at the London School of Economics, said it would be no surprise to British voters that the E.U. was having trouble reaching a deal. |
| “The way that Europe has made its decisions has always been seen in Britain as a bit on the dysfunctional side,” Travers said. | “The way that Europe has made its decisions has always been seen in Britain as a bit on the dysfunctional side,” Travers said. |
| The breathless reports of down-to-the-wire talks, Travers said, could ultimately help Cameron make his case that he had secured the best deal possible. | The breathless reports of down-to-the-wire talks, Travers said, could ultimately help Cameron make his case that he had secured the best deal possible. |
| “The negotiations have to be difficult to create the sense of having gained something big,” he said. | “The negotiations have to be difficult to create the sense of having gained something big,” he said. |
| But even before the negotiations were complete, Cameron was facing defections. One of the most senior members of his cabinet, Michael Gove, will join the “out” campaign, the BBC and other media outlets reported Friday evening. | |
| Most of the government’s other top officials were expected to stick with the prime minister and support the “in” campaign. But some leading Conservatives have yet to show their cards, including London Mayor Boris Johnson, who would give “out” a charismatic potential leader if he ends up siding with Brexit. | |
| Brexit advocates packed a London conference center Friday night for what was billed as a kick-off event for the campaign, even though the stalled negotiations in Brussels meant that Cameron had to cancel plans to convene a cabinet meeting and formally launch the contest. The date for the referendum is widely expected to be June 23, although the prime minister technically has until the end of 2017 to hold the vote, which he promised during last year's general election. | |
| Read more: | Read more: |
| Spring could bring a fresh surge of refugees. But Europe isn’t ready for them. | Spring could bring a fresh surge of refugees. But Europe isn’t ready for them. |
| In supposed no-go zone, British Muslims, Christians say no to fanatics | In supposed no-go zone, British Muslims, Christians say no to fanatics |
| Even Europe’s humanitarian superpower is turning its back on refugees | Even Europe’s humanitarian superpower is turning its back on refugees |
| Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world | Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world |
| Karla Adam and Daniela Deane in London contributed to this report. | Karla Adam and Daniela Deane in London contributed to this report. |