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David Cameron accepts EU treaty change delay David Cameron accepts EU treaty change delay
(about 2 hours later)
David Cameron has accepted there may be no change to the EU's treaties to accommodate Britain's demands ahead of a referendum, the BBC understands.David Cameron has accepted there may be no change to the EU's treaties to accommodate Britain's demands ahead of a referendum, the BBC understands.
Mr Cameron has instead argued for an "irreversible lock" and "legally binding" guarantees that EU law will be changed at some point in the future, says the BBC's Nick Robinson.Mr Cameron has instead argued for an "irreversible lock" and "legally binding" guarantees that EU law will be changed at some point in the future, says the BBC's Nick Robinson.
No 10 said the PM remained committed to "proper, full on treaty change".No 10 said the PM remained committed to "proper, full on treaty change".
Eurosceptic Tory MP John Redwood said the EU could not be trusted.Eurosceptic Tory MP John Redwood said the EU could not be trusted.
"We should never trust what the EU says. They change their mind more often than I change my shirts, which is very often," Mr Redwood said of the guarantees Mr Cameron is seeking. "We should never trust what the EU says. They change their mind more often than I change my shirts, which is very often," said Mr Redwood.
But Mr Redwood said he was "less exercised" about the legal structures used by the government to achieve reform. But he said he was "less exercised" about the legal structures used by the government to achieve reform.
Mr Cameron's commitment to hold a referendum by the end of 2017 meant it was always a possibility that any treaty changes would be enacted at a later date. Mr Cameron's commitment to hold an in/out referendum on Britain's membership of the EU by the end of 2017 meant it was always a possibility that any treaty changes would be enacted at a later date.
'Accepting the inevitable''Accepting the inevitable'
As recently as January, Mr Cameron said he would be demanding "proper, full-on treaty change" in his negotiations with the EU. The PM is attending a European Council summit in Brussels, where he will formally set out his renegotiation aims to his EU counterparts.
As recently as January, Mr Cameron said he would be demanding "proper, full-on treaty change" in his negotiations.
Downing Street insisted the prime minister remained committed to that position and would not agree to any deal which was not clear about that.Downing Street insisted the prime minister remained committed to that position and would not agree to any deal which was not clear about that.
A No 10 spokesman said the British people would be able to judge this for themselves when they vote in the upcoming in/out referendum on Britain's membership of the EU. A No 10 spokesman said the British people would be able to judge this for themselves when they voted in the upcoming in/out referendum on Britain's membership of the EU.
Analysis by Nick Robinson, BBC political editorAnalysis by Nick Robinson, BBC political editor
Eurosceptics and those who want to leave the EU altogether have always been suspicious that agreements between political leaders can be later undermined in the courts.Eurosceptics and those who want to leave the EU altogether have always been suspicious that agreements between political leaders can be later undermined in the courts.
They believe that legal or treaty changes are necessary to deliver the prime minister's negotiating objectives - in particular to free Britain from the EU's commitment to build an "ever closer union" of nation states and to ensure that benefits such as tax credits be withheld from migrants who have been in the country for less than four years.They believe that legal or treaty changes are necessary to deliver the prime minister's negotiating objectives - in particular to free Britain from the EU's commitment to build an "ever closer union" of nation states and to ensure that benefits such as tax credits be withheld from migrants who have been in the country for less than four years.
David Cameron's critics may fear that the formula he is now using is a watering down of that commitment and will demand to know who would interpret any legally binding agreement reached between the UK and the rest of the EU.David Cameron's critics may fear that the formula he is now using is a watering down of that commitment and will demand to know who would interpret any legally binding agreement reached between the UK and the rest of the EU.
Downing Street insists, however, that it is simply a reflection of the fact that any treaty change will require a time-consuming ratification process in 28 different countries involving parliamentary votes as well as referendums in France, Ireland and Denmark.Downing Street insists, however, that it is simply a reflection of the fact that any treaty change will require a time-consuming ratification process in 28 different countries involving parliamentary votes as well as referendums in France, Ireland and Denmark.
Read more from NickRead more from Nick
However, UKIP leader Nigel Farage said the prime minister was "accepting the inevitable" that there would be no treaty change.However, UKIP leader Nigel Farage said the prime minister was "accepting the inevitable" that there would be no treaty change.
He told the BBC there "will be nothing really fundamental in Britain's renegotiation of its membership [of the European Union]".He told the BBC there "will be nothing really fundamental in Britain's renegotiation of its membership [of the European Union]".
"This doesn't look like a man on a mission who is determined to achieve something whoever he upsets," Mr Farage said of the PM. "This looks like somebody who is now setting his ambitions for the change of our relationship incredibly low." "This doesn't look like a man on a mission who is determined to achieve something whoever he upsets," Mr Farage said of the PM. "This looks like somebody who is now setting his ambitions... incredibly low."
Former Conservative Home Office minister Damian Green, a pro-European MP, said it was "perfectly sensible for the prime minister to leave his options open" to get the results he wanted.Former Conservative Home Office minister Damian Green, a pro-European MP, said it was "perfectly sensible for the prime minister to leave his options open" to get the results he wanted.
"It's obvious that a treaty change would require referendums in other countries so it would be a very long, drawn out process. You can see why other countries won't welcome that," he added."It's obvious that a treaty change would require referendums in other countries so it would be a very long, drawn out process. You can see why other countries won't welcome that," he added.
'Non-negotiable''Non-negotiable'
For Labour, shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn said Mr Cameron was "signalling retreat while pretending that all he ever wanted was a post-dated cheque".For Labour, shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn said Mr Cameron was "signalling retreat while pretending that all he ever wanted was a post-dated cheque".
"The prime minister has made a mess of this. He should have known what the position of other countries would be, but because he did not prepare the ground, for the second time in a few months he has been forced to admit that he can't get what he wants," he said."The prime minister has made a mess of this. He should have known what the position of other countries would be, but because he did not prepare the ground, for the second time in a few months he has been forced to admit that he can't get what he wants," he said.
Tory MP Steve Baker, co-founder of Conservatives for Britain, said he and colleagues were "more concerned" about the "substance" of any new relationship between the UK and the EU "rather than the mechanism" which will deliver it. Meanwhile, Tory MP Steve Baker, co-founder of Conservatives for Britain, said he and colleagues were "more concerned" about the "substance" of any new relationship between the UK and the EU "rather than the mechanism" which will deliver it.
The group, which includes former cabinet ministers, is calling for "fundamental" EU reform, including restricting freedom of movement and making Westminster sovereign over EU law.The group, which includes former cabinet ministers, is calling for "fundamental" EU reform, including restricting freedom of movement and making Westminster sovereign over EU law.
The PM is attending a European Council summit in Brussels, where he will formally set out his renegotiation aims to his EU counterparts. The gathering in Brussels will be the first time the UK's objectives have been collectively discussed by EU leaders.
He has achieved his objective of speaking to all 27 EU leaders about his plans ahead of the summit, holding the final talks with his European counterparts on Thursday morning. The PM has achieved his aim of speaking to all 27 EU leaders about his plans ahead of the summit.
Mr Cameron also discussed EU reform with Council President Donald Tusk, who has said the substance of the UK's proposals will be considered "but only in a way which will be safe for all Europe". Earlier in the day, he spoke with Council President Donald Tusk, who has said the substance of the UK's proposals will be considered "but only in a way which will be safe for all Europe".
Mr Tusk warned that the fundamental values of the 28-member bloc "are not for sale and so are non-negotiable".Mr Tusk warned that the fundamental values of the 28-member bloc "are not for sale and so are non-negotiable".
'Compromises''Compromises'
The PM's official spokeswoman said Mr Cameron had been clear he supported the fundamental values of the EU and the principle of free movement.The PM's official spokeswoman said Mr Cameron had been clear he supported the fundamental values of the EU and the principle of free movement.
But she said "ever closer union" was not a principle Britain was attached to.But she said "ever closer union" was not a principle Britain was attached to.
The gathering in Brussels will be the first time his objectives have been collectively discussed by EU leaders. The PM hopes the talks in Brussels will pave the way for official negotiations to begin on the terms of the UK's EU membership.
Germany's Europe Minister, Michael Roth, said Britain must "put forward concrete proposals" for its renegotiation. Germany's Europe minister, Michael Roth, said Britain must "put forward concrete proposals" for its renegotiation.
He said Germany was willing to discuss Britain's proposals "constructively" but "compromises" would be required.He said Germany was willing to discuss Britain's proposals "constructively" but "compromises" would be required.
Business for New Europe said Mr Cameron "does not need to change the EU treaties to get what he wants in Europe". Business for New Europe said Mr Cameron "does not need to change the EU treaties to get what he wants in Europe", saying "substance is more important than what piece of paper it's written on".
Lucy Thomas, campaign director of the pro-European business group, said "substance is more important than what piece of paper it's written on".
"Whether it is on competitiveness, migrant benefits, or protecting countries that do not use the euro, these can all be achieved without a time-consuming changes to the treaties," she added.