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David Cameron to begin EU talks with European leaders | David Cameron to begin EU talks with European leaders |
(about 2 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. |
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. |
But 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. | |
Greece must repay a €1.6bn (£1.1bn) IMF loan by next Tuesday or face default, and talks so far have failed to reach agreement. | |
With time running out, Greek PM Alexis Tsipras has resumed talks with international creditors, and eurozone finance ministers hope to endorse a deal when they meet again ahead of the summit. | |
'Another step closer' | |
The summit's first "working session" and dinner will be dedicated to the Mediterranean migrant crisis, amid a difference of opinion over Europe-wide quota systems and following what Mr Cameron called the "totally unacceptable" sight of hundreds of migrants trying to board UK-bound vehicles at Calais. | |
At the end of the dinner, Mr Cameron will address the leaders about his planned reforms and 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". |
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 |
BBC political editor Nick Robinson | |
When you turn up for dinner it's polite to take a gift but when David Cameron shows up in Brussels tonight he won't be bearing flowers or chocolates. | |
What he'll hand over to his host to share with the 27 other guests is the "British problem". This is the important moment that it becomes the EU's shared problem. | |
Gone are the days when Europe's politicians and officials could kid themselves that if they waited long enough the British would change their mind or change their government. | |
They now know that, like it or not, there will be a renegotiation of the UK's membership of the EU followed by a referendum. | |
Read Nick's blog in full | |
Katya Adler: What does David Cameron want? | Katya Adler: What does David Cameron want? |
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. |
The UK has opted out of a planned quota system to deal with with the Mediterranean migrant crisis. | The UK has opted out of a planned quota system to deal with with the Mediterranean migrant crisis. |
Former Labour home secretary David Blunkett said that if Mr Cameron wanted to gain support for his EU reforms, he needed to "win friends". | Former Labour home secretary David Blunkett said that if Mr Cameron wanted to gain support for his EU reforms, he needed to "win friends". |
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "To win friends he is going to have to cooperate in some way with the wider issue of immigration coming from outside the EU." | He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "To win friends he is going to have to cooperate in some way with the wider issue of immigration coming from outside the EU." |