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Leaked note suggests Cameron's 'firm aim' to stay in EU Leaked note suggests Cameron's 'firm aim' to stay in EU
(about 1 hour later)
David Cameron's "firm aim" is to ensure the UK remains in the EU and he will warn of the risks of exit in a future referendum, it has been reported.David Cameron's "firm aim" is to ensure the UK remains in the EU and he will warn of the risks of exit in a future referendum, it has been reported.
The Guardian said his intentions were revealed in an account of a meeting with another EU leader it had obtained.The Guardian said his intentions were revealed in an account of a meeting with another EU leader it had obtained.
It said the note suggested Mr Cameron believed "people will ultimately vote for the status quo if the alternatives can be made to appear risky".It said the note suggested Mr Cameron believed "people will ultimately vote for the status quo if the alternatives can be made to appear risky".
But the PM said he "ruled nothing" out if he didn't get the deal he wanted.But the PM said he "ruled nothing" out if he didn't get the deal he wanted.
And Downing Street said there would be no "running commentary" on the negotiations.
The leaked note suggests Mr Cameron is planning to focus his EU referendum campaign on the "risky" consequences of a British exit.The leaked note suggests Mr Cameron is planning to focus his EU referendum campaign on the "risky" consequences of a British exit.
The claims emerged as Mr Cameron said he was confident he could negotiate a "new and different" membership of the EU "rooted in the national interest" and insisted it was "always" his view that securing treaty change was unlikely before a referendum takes place.The claims emerged as Mr Cameron said he was confident he could negotiate a "new and different" membership of the EU "rooted in the national interest" and insisted it was "always" his view that securing treaty change was unlikely before a referendum takes place.
Speaking in Brussels, Mr Cameron said he had briefed EU leaders on specific reforms he wanted to see in four key areas. Speaking in Brussels, Mr Cameron said he had briefed EU leaders on specific reforms he wanted to see in four key areas: sovereignty, fairness, competitiveness and immigration.
But, as he did so, the Guardian published details of the account of a meeting that the PM held with one of his EU counterparts in the run-up to the two-day summit.But, as he did so, the Guardian published details of the account of a meeting that the PM held with one of his EU counterparts in the run-up to the two-day summit.
'Achievable''Achievable'
The newspaper said the document suggested Mr Cameron had formulated a relatively modest, and "achievable" reform package to secure agreement among fellow EU leaders.The newspaper said the document suggested Mr Cameron had formulated a relatively modest, and "achievable" reform package to secure agreement among fellow EU leaders.
"The PM said that he had deliberately not produced a lengthy shopping list and had been careful in formulating his wish list, but he needed to get satisfaction on these reform demands," it reportedly said."The PM said that he had deliberately not produced a lengthy shopping list and had been careful in formulating his wish list, but he needed to get satisfaction on these reform demands," it reportedly said.
"He said that he needed to win the middle ground and, if he is to achieve this, then moderate people needed to feel that the things that bother them about the EU have been dealt with"."He said that he needed to win the middle ground and, if he is to achieve this, then moderate people needed to feel that the things that bother them about the EU have been dealt with".
The note stated that the PM's "firm aim was to was to keep the UK in the EU" and suggested he would base his campaign on highlighting the country's importance in areas including foreign policy and defence.The note stated that the PM's "firm aim was to was to keep the UK in the EU" and suggested he would base his campaign on highlighting the country's importance in areas including foreign policy and defence.
It also indicated that the prime minister wanted a EU referendum in 2016 - up to a year earlier than the latest date available - and believed Germany and Italy were more receptive than France to his demands for reform. It also indicated that the prime minister wanted an EU referendum in 2016 - up to a year earlier than the latest date available - and believed Germany and Italy were more receptive than France to his demands for reform.
'Con job''Con job'
UKIP leader Nigel Farage said the note suggested the PM's claim that he was open-minded about the UK's future in Europe and his views depended on the outcome of negotiations were a "con job". UKIP leader Nigel Farage said the note proved the PM was "conning people" when he said he was open-minded about the UK's future in Europe.
Asked about the note by journalists, Mr Cameron did not deny its existence and said while he wanted to make a "positive" case for the UK to remain in the EU, he was clear he did not rule anything out if he did not get the deal he wanted. Asked about the note by journalists, Mr Cameron did not deny its existence and said while he wanted to make a "wholly positive" case for the UK to remain in a reformed EU, he was clear he did not rule anything out if he did not get the deal he wanted.
Insisting the negotiations would take "patience and tenacity", he joked he "did not recall Mr Farage being in the room" in any of his meetings with EU leaders over the past three weeks.Insisting the negotiations would take "patience and tenacity", he joked he "did not recall Mr Farage being in the room" in any of his meetings with EU leaders over the past three weeks.
He said his approach was not to "kick the tables in and making immediate demands" but to make clear where changes were needed in both the UK and Europe's interests, focused on four areas: sovereignty, fairness, competitiveness and immigration. He said his approach was not to "kick the tables in" or make "immediate demands" but to make clear where changes were needed in both the UK and Europe's interests.
"People can see that Britain has got a legitimate set of questions, a legitimate set of asks and that people can see that there is a really deep and sensible thinking behind this," he said."People can see that Britain has got a legitimate set of questions, a legitimate set of asks and that people can see that there is a really deep and sensible thinking behind this," he said.
His key demands include: Treaty change
Mr Cameron said not every EU country agreed with all of these and negotiations would be tough but he believed that he would be able to come away with a "substantial package" of changes to make the EU work more effectively for its members. Asked about the prospect of getting the reforms embodied in treaty changes, he said it was "never the case" that he believed that this would be possible by the time of the referendum, given that the process would require votes in other EU countries as well.
Asked about the prospect of getting the changes ratified through treaty changes, he said it was "never the case" that he believed that this would be possible by the time of the referendum, given that the process would require votes in other EU countries as well. What matters, he added, was "getting the substantial agreement then taking that to the British people".
"It was never going to be the case that you get all 27 other parliaments to pass treaty change before you have your referendum. In January, Mr Cameron said he would be demanding "full-on treaty change" in his negotiations and Downing Street has insisted the prime minister would not agree to any deal which was not clear about that.
"But this isn't in any way strange. What matters is getting the substantial agreement then taking that to the British people." Downing Street has indicated that, if necessary, the UK will seek "legally-binding" guarantees that the changes would be incorporated in future treaty amendments after 2017 to ensure they were irreversible.
Downing Street has said the UK will seek "legally-binding" guarantees from other EU leaders that the changes would be incorporated in a future treaty change to ensure they were irreversible. But Labour said the PM had been forced into a climb down.
In January, Mr Cameron said he would be demanding "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. "The prime minister spent a lot of time saying 'yeah we've got to have treaty change' and finally yesterday (Thursday) he let it be known that perhaps there won't be treaty change immediately as a result of these negotiations," said shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn.
"So not for the first time he leads everybody up the hill, then has to say 'turn around we're going down the other side'."