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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.
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. 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".
'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."
AnalysisAnalysis
By BBC political correspondent Ben Wright BBC political editor Nick Robinson
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. 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.
But reaching a deal is likely to be a long and difficult process. 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.
This meeting is likely to give the green light to the first stage of the formal renegotiation - talks between officials in Whitehall and Brussels. 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.
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. 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.
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. Read Nick's blog in full
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?Katya Adler: What does David Cameron want?
'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 focusEU 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 referendumQ&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 EuropeWhat Britain wants from Europe
Timeline: EU referendum debateTimeline: 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.
'Win friends'
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 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."
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.