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| David Cameron to press Francois Hollande on EU reform over pub lunch | David Cameron to press Francois Hollande on EU reform over pub lunch |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| David Cameron will attempt to persuade French president Francois Hollande of the pressing need for reform of the European Union over a pub lunch today. | David Cameron will attempt to persuade French president Francois Hollande of the pressing need for reform of the European Union over a pub lunch today. |
| The Prime Minister has promised to renegotiate the UK's relationship with Brussels ahead of a referendum on EU membership in 2017, but a source close to Mr Hollande signalled that it was “ very, very unlikely” he would agree to treaty changes by that date. | |
| The two leaders will discuss the issue at an informal lunch following a summit meeting at RAF Brize Norton in Mr Cameron's Oxfordshire constituency which will see progress on a number of joint defence projects including work on a new generation of combat drones. | The two leaders will discuss the issue at an informal lunch following a summit meeting at RAF Brize Norton in Mr Cameron's Oxfordshire constituency which will see progress on a number of joint defence projects including work on a new generation of combat drones. |
| British officials sought to play down the differences between the two men over the timing of EU reform, arguing that there was a growing consensus that changes were needed and the difference was over timing. | British officials sought to play down the differences between the two men over the timing of EU reform, arguing that there was a growing consensus that changes were needed and the difference was over timing. |
| “We have seen over a period of months now increasing recognition around Europe about the need for treaty change,” a source said. | “We have seen over a period of months now increasing recognition around Europe about the need for treaty change,” a source said. |
| “Every country will approach that from their own perspective in the usual way.” | “Every country will approach that from their own perspective in the usual way.” |
| The source insisted there was an “entente tres cordiale” with France but “the Prime Minister will be making the points that he does around the importance of a more flexible, more competitive European Union”. | The source insisted there was an “entente tres cordiale” with France but “the Prime Minister will be making the points that he does around the importance of a more flexible, more competitive European Union”. |
| “The Prime Minister's timetable is through to 2017,” the source said. | “The Prime Minister's timetable is through to 2017,” the source said. |
| “There is a debate that is ongoing, and I would simply point out that last year we were taking quite a few questions around whether or not there was a degree of consensus around the need for treaty change. | “There is a debate that is ongoing, and I would simply point out that last year we were taking quite a few questions around whether or not there was a degree of consensus around the need for treaty change. |
| “I think you are seeing in a number of European capitals, there were discussions around this in the Bundestag recently as well, about the fact that the changes that the eurozone need to put through will require a treaty change. | “I think you are seeing in a number of European capitals, there were discussions around this in the Bundestag recently as well, about the fact that the changes that the eurozone need to put through will require a treaty change. |
| “Each country will bring to the table its own perspectives and we will bring ours.” | “Each country will bring to the table its own perspectives and we will bring ours.” |
| Mr Cameron was “optimistic and takes a very positive approach to the changes that he wants to see”, the source added. | Mr Cameron was “optimistic and takes a very positive approach to the changes that he wants to see”, the source added. |
| “If you take the arguments we are making about flexibility, and the importance of competitiveness, I think those are arguments that resonate across the EU. | “If you take the arguments we are making about flexibility, and the importance of competitiveness, I think those are arguments that resonate across the EU. |
| “In terms of the timetable that we are working to that's through to the referendum in 2017. | “In terms of the timetable that we are working to that's through to the referendum in 2017. |
| “There is a process, we will continue to make our points over time.” | “There is a process, we will continue to make our points over time.” |
| The British and French governments will announce deals on nuclear power, space co-operation and defence projects at the summit. | The British and French governments will announce deals on nuclear power, space co-operation and defence projects at the summit. |
| The governments will announce a two year, £120 million feasibility study for a new armed drone, the Future Air Combat System. | The governments will announce a two year, £120 million feasibility study for a new armed drone, the Future Air Combat System. |
| They will also commit to a £500 million joint purchase of anti-ship missiles produced by MBDA and Finmeccanica. | They will also commit to a £500 million joint purchase of anti-ship missiles produced by MBDA and Finmeccanica. |
| The UK will also receive two A400M transport planes earlier than expected after swapping a delivery slot for the aircraft with the French. | The UK will also receive two A400M transport planes earlier than expected after swapping a delivery slot for the aircraft with the French. |
| The two countries will discuss the latest developments in the joint expeditionary force, which will see closer military co-operation between the British and French. | The two countries will discuss the latest developments in the joint expeditionary force, which will see closer military co-operation between the British and French. |
| Joint exercises are planned later this year, a source said. | Joint exercises are planned later this year, a source said. |
| French energy giant EDF committed last year to build a new power station at Hinkley Point in Somerset, and the governments will sign a memorandum of understanding on involving small and medium-sized firms in the nuclear supply chain and co-operation between researchers on both sides of the Channel. | French energy giant EDF committed last year to build a new power station at Hinkley Point in Somerset, and the governments will sign a memorandum of understanding on involving small and medium-sized firms in the nuclear supply chain and co-operation between researchers on both sides of the Channel. |
| A framework agreement between the UK Space Agency and its French counterpart will include joint working on satellites and instruments. | A framework agreement between the UK Space Agency and its French counterpart will include joint working on satellites and instruments. |
| The build-up to the summit has been dominated by revelations about the French president's private life, but a potential diplomatic banana skin has been avoided after it was confirmed there will be no official roles for political wives and partners. | The build-up to the summit has been dominated by revelations about the French president's private life, but a potential diplomatic banana skin has been avoided after it was confirmed there will be no official roles for political wives and partners. |
| Mr Hollande ended a seven-year relationship with former first lady Valerie Trierweiler after a media report - which he has not denied - that he was having an affair with actress Julie Gayet. | Mr Hollande ended a seven-year relationship with former first lady Valerie Trierweiler after a media report - which he has not denied - that he was having an affair with actress Julie Gayet. |
| Ms Trierweiler told Paris-Match, where she worked for a long time as a journalist, that she did not believe rumours about the affair until a gossip magazine report earlier this month. | Ms Trierweiler told Paris-Match, where she worked for a long time as a journalist, that she did not believe rumours about the affair until a gossip magazine report earlier this month. |
| “When I found out, it was like I had fallen from a skyscraper,” she said. | “When I found out, it was like I had fallen from a skyscraper,” she said. |
| PA | PA |