British Prime Minister David Cameron said his bid to change Britain’s relationship with the EU is gathering momentum after fellow leaders signaled they are willing to find compromises on his demand for curbs on welfare.
Rather than the fight that many analysts said Cameron needed to satisfy British voters, the prime minister left negotiations in Brussels on Thursday night with an optimistic message about the prospects for a deal at the next European summit in February.
Leaders yesterday resumed their talks with the focus on issues including Syria, fighting terrorism and energy.
Photo: AFP
“There is momentum — there was enormous support in the room for finding ways of keeping the UK in the EU,” Cameron told reporters. “We’ve taken a big step forward for a better deal for Britain but there’s still a lot of hard work to be done.”
The main sticking point remains Cameron’s determination to make citizens of other EU countries ineligible for in-work, housing and child welfare payments until they have been in the UK for four years.
He has pledged to seek to overhaul the bloc before an in-or-out referendum on British membership to be held by the end of 2017.
Leaders indicated they might accept a compromise similar to opt-outs from certain EU rules that Denmark won in 1992, an EU official said on condition of anonymity.
This could be enshrined in law before the UK holds its referendum and could include a so-called emergency brake to enable Britain to restrict welfare payments if it could prove exceptional circumstances, the EU official said.
His fellow leaders echoed Cameron’s view that a deal can be reached, even though they did not make any substantial concessions on the night.
“Tonight was a make or break moment,” EU President Donald Tusk told reporters after the meeting. “Leaders voiced their concerns but also demonstrated willingness to look for compromises. I am much more optimistic than before today’s meeting.”
Estonian Prime Minister Taavi Roivas said: “A lot of time is needed, a lot of effort but I believe we can reach an agreement by February.”
However, Cameron’s critics at home were unimpressed.
“David Cameron came, saw, and got hammered,” Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party, said on Twitter. “How many times can his little plans be rejected? I suspect he will probably get a few minor concessions.”
The British prime minister had vowed to battle through the night as government leaders from across Europe warned they would not accept significant elements of his plans for changes to the terms of Britain’s EU relationship.
Instead the meeting broke up around midnight with other leaders offering warm words, while pushing the challenge of crafting solutions to February.
While Cameron initially sought to clinch a deal at this summit, the lack of consensus on the welfare-payments issue means attempts for an agreement are now slated for the next leaders’ gathering in February.
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