This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33259566
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| David Cameron to begin EU talks with European leaders | David Cameron to begin EU talks with European leaders |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| David Cameron is to set out his EU renegotiation aims at a meeting of European leaders in Brussels later. | David Cameron is to set out his EU renegotiation aims at a meeting of European leaders in Brussels later. |
| The European Council summit will be the first time the objectives have been collectively discussed by EU leaders. | The European Council summit will be the first time the objectives have been collectively discussed by EU leaders. |
| However, with the agenda set to be dominated by the Greek debt and migrant crises, time will be limited for leaders to consider the UK's proposals. | However, with the agenda set to be dominated by the Greek debt and migrant crises, time will be limited for leaders to consider the UK's proposals. |
| The PM hopes it will pave the way for official negotiations to begin on the terms of the UK's EU membership. | The PM hopes it will pave the way for official negotiations to begin on the terms of the UK's EU membership. |
| Mr Cameron wants to make changes, before putting a revised package to a referendum of the British public by the end of 2017. | Mr Cameron wants to make changes, before putting a revised package to a referendum of the British public by the end of 2017. |
| He has not set out the full details of his negotiating aims but his priorities include restrictions to welfare entitlements, greater powers for national Parliaments and an opt-out for Britain from the principle of "ever closer union". | He has not set out the full details of his negotiating aims but his priorities include restrictions to welfare entitlements, greater powers for national Parliaments and an opt-out for Britain from the principle of "ever closer union". |
| 'Addressing concerns' | 'Addressing concerns' |
| Ahead of the summit, Mr Cameron said: "This presents an opportunity to get the negotiation under way and to kick off a process to work through the substance and to find solutions. | Ahead of the summit, Mr Cameron said: "This presents an opportunity to get the negotiation under way and to kick off a process to work through the substance and to find solutions. |
| "It will take us another step closer to addressing the concerns that the British people have about the EU. | "It will take us another step closer to addressing the concerns that the British people have about the EU. |
| "And closer to changing the status quo for the better and then giving the British people a say on whether the UK should stay in or leave the EU." | "And closer to changing the status quo for the better and then giving the British people a say on whether the UK should stay in or leave the EU." |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| By BBC political correspondent Ben Wright | By BBC political correspondent Ben Wright |
| It is a big moment. David Cameron has already sketched out his plans to European leaders, hearing where they agree and where they don't. | It is a big moment. David Cameron has already sketched out his plans to European leaders, hearing where they agree and where they don't. |
| But reaching a deal is likely to be a long and difficult process. | But reaching a deal is likely to be a long and difficult process. |
| This meeting is likely to give the green light to the first stage of the formal renegotiation - talks between officials in Whitehall and Brussels. | This meeting is likely to give the green light to the first stage of the formal renegotiation - talks between officials in Whitehall and Brussels. |
| But the pressing issue for this summit is the surge in migration from outside Europe. EU leaders agree there's a crisis. They don't agree what to do about it. | But the pressing issue for this summit is the surge in migration from outside Europe. EU leaders agree there's a crisis. They don't agree what to do about it. |
| There seems to be little support for dispersing non-EU migrants with a quota system and Britain is opting out of a programme to share the burden with other EU countries. | There seems to be little support for dispersing non-EU migrants with a quota system and Britain is opting out of a programme to share the burden with other EU countries. |
| But David Cameron is expected to say more must be done on returning people without a legitimate asylum claim to the countries they've come from. | But David Cameron is expected to say more must be done on returning people without a legitimate asylum claim to the countries they've come from. |
| Katya Adler: What does David Cameron want? | |
| 'Constructive dialogue' | 'Constructive dialogue' |
| On the eve of the summit, Mr Cameron had talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin as part of his efforts to speak face-to-face with his European counterparts about his aims. | On the eve of the summit, Mr Cameron had talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin as part of his efforts to speak face-to-face with his European counterparts about his aims. |
| On Wednesday evening, during a state banquet for the Queen, who is visiting Germany, German President Joachim Gauck said the EU "needs Britain". | On Wednesday evening, during a state banquet for the Queen, who is visiting Germany, German President Joachim Gauck said the EU "needs Britain". |
| "We know that we need an effective European Union based on a stable foundation of shared values," he said. | "We know that we need an effective European Union based on a stable foundation of shared values," he said. |
| "A constructive dialogue on the reforms Britain wants to see is therefore essential. As a good partner, Germany will support this dialogue." | "A constructive dialogue on the reforms Britain wants to see is therefore essential. As a good partner, Germany will support this dialogue." |
| However, French minister Emmanuel Macron has told the BBC the UK should not be able to cherry-pick aspects of EU membership. | However, French minister Emmanuel Macron has told the BBC the UK should not be able to cherry-pick aspects of EU membership. |
| "I don't understand how it is possible to say 'We, the UK, have all the positive aspects of Europe but don't want to share any of the risk with any member states'." | "I don't understand how it is possible to say 'We, the UK, have all the positive aspects of Europe but don't want to share any of the risk with any member states'." |
| At the state banquet, the Queen spoke of the need for unity in Europe and how the continent must strive to "maintain the benefits of the post-war world". | At the state banquet, the Queen spoke of the need for unity in Europe and how the continent must strive to "maintain the benefits of the post-war world". |
| She warned in her speech that "division in Europe is dangerous". | She warned in her speech that "division in Europe is dangerous". |
| Buckingham Palace officials later stressed that the Queen's comments were not a reference to Mr Cameron's EU reforms or upcoming referendum, but rather about the risks of wider differences dividing the continent. | Buckingham Palace officials later stressed that the Queen's comments were not a reference to Mr Cameron's EU reforms or upcoming referendum, but rather about the risks of wider differences dividing the continent. |
| EU referendum in focus | EU referendum in focus |
| David Cameron is starting renegotiation of the terms of Britain's EU membership ahead of a referendum. Here is some further reading on what it all means: | David Cameron is starting renegotiation of the terms of Britain's EU membership ahead of a referendum. Here is some further reading on what it all means: |
| Q&A: The UK's planned EU referendum | Q&A: The UK's planned EU referendum |
| UK and the EU: Better off out or in? | UK and the EU: Better off out or in? |
| What Britain wants from Europe | What Britain wants from Europe |
| Timeline: EU referendum debate | Timeline: EU referendum debate |
| The European Commission has appointed a senior British official to head a new Brussels task force to handle issues relating to the UK referendum, which will begin its work on 1 September. | The European Commission has appointed a senior British official to head a new Brussels task force to handle issues relating to the UK referendum, which will begin its work on 1 September. |
| Jonathan Faull, who has worked in the commission for more than 30 years, will report directly to Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. | Jonathan Faull, who has worked in the commission for more than 30 years, will report directly to Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. |
| Thursday's summit will be dominated by discussions on the Greek crisis and the situation of migrants crossing the Mediterranean by boat for Europe. | Thursday's summit will be dominated by discussions on the Greek crisis and the situation of migrants crossing the Mediterranean by boat for Europe. |
| Calais chaos | Calais chaos |
| The recent chaos at Calais, where hundreds of migrants tried to board lorries to the UK during a strike, is also likely to feature. | The recent chaos at Calais, where hundreds of migrants tried to board lorries to the UK during a strike, is also likely to feature. |
| As a result, the UK's renegotiation demands are not due to be considered at the working sessions of the two-day summit, according to the official agenda. | As a result, the UK's renegotiation demands are not due to be considered at the working sessions of the two-day summit, according to the official agenda. |
| Instead, the PM will set out his aims at a working dinner on Thursday evening. | Instead, the PM will set out his aims at a working dinner on Thursday evening. |