Saturday, 20 February 2016

CAMERON'S CLIMBDOWN: Farage blasts 'pathetic' EU deal as PM caves in on migrant benefits

DAVID Cameron finally agreed a deal on Britain's future in Europe with EU leaders but FAILED to secure the treaty change demanded by Eurosceptics. 

David Cameron
David Cameron held marathon talks throughout the night

 KEY EVENTS

• DEAL DONE: David Cameron agrees a deal on Britain's future in Europe with EU leaders 

• Talks leader Donald Tusk tweets that there is unanimous agreement on the package 

• Mr Cameron insists that he has secured 'a deal to give the UK special status in the EU'

• But Brexit campaigners blast the accorde, saying it was not worth the wait 

• UKIP leader Nigel Farage describes deal as 'truly pathetic' 

• New poll shows UK on course for Brexit

• Mr Cameron suffers big blow as Michael Gove defects to Brexit camp

• PM to hold crunch talks with Eurosceptic ministers tomorrow morning ahead of Cabinet meeting

• Earlier Greece thretened to sink any hopes of a deal over EU handling of migrant crisis

• EU referendum: key dates - when could it be?

Early indications show that the Prime Minister has further watered down his demands from Brussels, compromising on migrants benefits and Britain's exemption from the principle of ever-closer union.
UKIP leader Nigel Farage branded the deal "truly pathetic" and said it had not strengthened the argument for staying in the EU.
He tweeted: "This is a truly pathetic deal. Let's Leave the EU, control our borders, run our own country and stop handing £55m every day to Brussels."
"I believe in Britain. We are good enough to be an independent, self-governing nation outside of the EU. This is our golden opportunity." 
Earlier Mr Cameron told reporters: "I have negotiated a deal to give the UK special status in the EU. I will be recommending it to Cabinet tomorrow. Press conference shortly."
According to a draft document Mr Cameron has secured an agreement in principle that Britain's objections to ever-closer union will be noted in any future treaty change, not expected to be until 2020.
But Brexit campaigners immediately questioned whether the promise is worth the paper it is written on, with EU leaders having previously hinted they could go back on any deal with Britain. It was a massive retreat from the Tory general election manifesto pledge to scrap the payments altogether.
Richard Tice, co-founder of Leave.EU blasted: “The Prime Minister promised half a loaf, begged for a crust and came home with crumbs."
On child benefits the Prime Minister backed down on his demand that Britain be granted a 13-year period in ministers would be allowed to freeze in-work benefits for EU migrants in the UK for four years - known as an emergency brake.
Instead he accepted a watered-down proposal of seven years in a move likely to anger his own Eurosceptic MPs. The changes will also only apply to newly arrived migrants, meaning they will only affect a few thousands people.
The cuts will not apply until 2020 and will mean that the migrants will be entitled to the hand-out paid at the rate in their homeland. The deal also confirmed that the UK will get no second offer if voters back an exit from the EU in the forthcoming referendum.
The deal was immediately blasted by Brexit campaigners, who said it represented a significant climbdown for the Prime Minister.
Matthew Elliott, Vote Leave Chief Executive said: "David Cameron always wanted to campaign to stay in the EU so he only
ever asked for very minor changes. He will now declare victory but it is an entirely hollow one.
"The EU courts are still in control of our borders and our laws, we still send £350 million a week to the EU instead of spending it here on our priorities and we have not taken back any
control.
"Crucially, this deal is not legally binding and can be ripped up by EU politicians and unelected EU judges so it will have no more force than an unsigned contract.
"The only way to get real change is to Vote Leave and take back control - that is the safer choice."
Senior Labour MP Frank Fields, who is planning to defy Jeremy Corbyn to campaign for a Brexit, added: "What a choice our poor old country faces. There’s widespread support amongst voters across Europe (but not leading politicians) for a fundamental EU reform programme, but our Government never seriously considered leading on this front.
"Yet the Government so lacked ability that it couldn’t even achieve the minimal reform programme it cobbled together. Holding the referendum in June was clearly more important than winning major reforms.
"The Government has failed to secure the key renegotiation requirement, namely, that we should regain control of our borders. I shall therefore be campaigning to leave the EU."
The farical deal came after more than 20 hours of fractious talks between EU leaders which had threatened to stretch into the weekend. However, it was not immediately clear what concessions Mr Cameron may have been forced to make in order to secure a concensus.
David Cameron leaves talks tonight
Mr Cameron has secured a deal with fellow EU leaders tonight

Despite the concessions Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen tweeted: "David Cameron fought hard for Britain. Good deal for the UK and the EU. Congrats."
And Former Marks and Spencer boss Stuart Rose, chairman of  Britain Stronger In Europe, added: “David Cameron’s hard-fought deal will make our place in Europe even more beneficial for Britain.
“The referendum campaign proper starts now. The British people have a choice. We can remain in a reformed Europe, which will eliminate many of the things that have irritated us about Brussels.
“The alternative is to leave the world’s largest market, meaning jobs could be lost and prices could rise. It would mean falling out of co-operation with our allies on fighting terrorism, and accepting a smaller voice in the world. Britain deserves better than that."
European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said: "The deal we have agreed is a fair one - fair for Britain, for the other member states and for the EU.
"It is also legally sound. The deal responds to all the concerns of the UK and respects the basic principles of our union and safeguards the integrity of the single market and the cohesion of the eurozone."

Yesterday Greece threatened to torpedo the talks altogether over Brussels’ handling of the migrant crisis.
The Czech prime minister also expressed his exasperation with Britain at one point, tweeting from the negotiating table that he was becoming "more and more perplexed by the British approach of non-negotiation".
It is thought Mr Cameron may return home to Britain and announce a date for a summer referendum tomorrow, expected to be June 23. He is expected to hold frantic crunch talks with several Eurosceptic ministers tomorrow morning before a Cabinet meeting gets under way at 10am.
The Prime Minister had been struggling to get fellow EU leaders to agree to his demands for reforming Britain’s membership of the 28-country bloc.
A planned breakfast to conclude discussions over his deal was delayed to lunch and has now again been pushed back until dinner, as Mr Cameron holds a series of emergency one-on-one meetings with EU leaders.
The Prime Minister had to postpone a planned Cabinet meeting yesterday - where he would have fired the starting gun for the EU referendum campaign - will no longer take place.
Mr Cameron posted on Twitter last night: "Negotiations are continuing into this evening. A Cabinet meeting won't be possible tonight. One will be held if and when a deal is done."
An EU official was earlier quoted as describing the Prime Minister's negotiations as "critical" with leaders told to book hotel rooms for last night, while it has also been suggested the summit could even drag on until Sunday.
The Czech Republic's Europe minister questioned Britain's conduct during ongoing talks.
Tomas Prouza posted on Twitter: "As the time passes, I am more and more perplexed by the #British approach of non-negotiation. Quite unorthodox, to say the least.
Having left a crunch summit in Brussels at 5.30am local time yesterday following a night of intense discussions, the Prime Minister returned for new talks after just four hours sleep.
Greek PM Alexis Tsipras is under pressure to strengthen the country's borders
In a dramatic development, Greece is now reported to have warned it could entirely torpedo any hopes of an agreement.
It comes amid the country’s strong opposition to suggestions its northern land border with Macedonia could be shut in order to stem the flow of refugees from the Middle East.
The European Commission has previously given Greece three months to restore control of its borders.
Other countries are desperate for Greece to be kicked out of the EU’s passport-free Schengen area unless it strengthens its borders.
Asked whether a veto threat over Britain’s deal had been issued, a Greek government source told Sky News: “Yes. [Greek prime minister Alexis] Tsipras demands proportionality, commitment and implementation of European Commission resolutions."
Mr Tspiras last night met with German chancellor Angela Merker and French president Francois Hollande on the sidelines of the Brussels summit over the migrant crisis.
Returning to the summit this morning for further talks with fellow EU leaders, Mr Cameron had admitted "there's still no deal".
Mr Cameron said: "I was here until five o'clock this morning working through this and we've made some progress but there's still no deal.
"As I've said I'll only do a deal if we get what Britain needs so we're going to get back in there, we're going to do some more work and I'll do everything I can."
The Prime Minister was due to meet European Council president Donald Tusk, Polish prime minister Beata Szydlo and Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi, who had requested talks.
British officials said the process was "moving forwards" but there were still differences between Mr Cameron and other EU leaders in many areas and a deal was not imminent.
Asked how the UK responded to a suggestion from Mr Tusk that the Council summit may have to be extended to Sunday to secure agreement, British officials said: "What matters is that we get the right deal, it doesn't matter how long it takes."

The Prime Minister's demands for protections for the City of London from eurozone measures to deal with the single currency's financial crisis are a key sticking-point to his hopes of getting a deal.
The most vociferous oppostion to such proposals comes from France, with the country's president Francois Hollande suggesting new demands from Mr Cameron last night were threatening to scupper agreement.
One official described Thursday night's discussions on French concerns about financial regulation as "significant".
Returning to the summit venue this moring, Mr Hollande said: "There is more work to be done this morning due to certain propositions last night that changed things somewhat.
"Notably in France's case the need for financial regulation across Europe without veto rights and a considered attempt to fight against the financial crisis with the same body.
"And that's where we are."
A tired-looking Prime Minister returned for more talks this morning
Following a summit dinner that dragged on until 2.20am, Mr Cameron then held a series of one-on-one talks with Mr Tusk, Mr Hollande, Czech prime minister Bohuslav Sobotka and Belgian prime minister Charles Michel
But the talks have so far proved fruitless as Mr Cameron looks to reform Britain’s relationship with the EU, ahead of an in/out referendum expected to be held on June 23.
A Downing Street source had said: “It's hard going. Some signs of progress but nothing yet agreed and still a lot to do.”
What the EU leaders ate last night
The biggest stumbling blocks to the Prime Minister being able to get his renegotiation deal are his demand for migrant welfare curbs, limiting child benefit payments, greater protection for non-eurozone countries, and a British opt-out from the EU’s principle of ‘ever-closer union’.
Mr Cameron is also struggling to get his reforms enshrined in EU treaty change, which he has previously promised.
Over dinner, the Prime Minister urged fellow leaders to agree a new "live and let live" settlement which he said could resolve the "festering" problem of Britain's relationship with Europe for a generation.
He told them he needed a package that would be "credible" with the British people and strong enough to persuade them to vote to remain in the EU.
But the Prime Minister’s remarks are said to have angered both France and Belgium, who are firmly against the idea of an ‘a la carte’ EU membership.
British officials declined to comment on reports the Prime Minister was asking for a proposed "emergency brake" on in-work welfare payments to EU migrants to last for seven years, with the option to extend it twice by a further three years to a total of 13.
In a draft deal, Mr Tusk had only outlined a four-year period.
Belgium - backed by France - proposed that the summit conclusions should state that any deal agreed this week is final and Europe will not come back with an improved offer if Britain votes to leave the EU.
Before talks had even begun, Mr Tusk had described it as a “make or break” summit for Mr Cameron’s renegotiation.

Ukip leader Nigel Farage said EU leaders would make concessions but insisted the reforms would amount to little.
Yesterday he told BBC’s Radio 4 Today programme: "I simply cannot believe that at some point today Mr Cameron will not get some concessions out of these people because they must know that if Cameron is sent home totally humiliated, Brexit has got that little bit closer."
He added: "We keep doing this. Government after government says we are going to reform the European Union but the problem is the word 'reform' in Britain means something completely different here. 'Reform' here means pushing on to closer economic and political union.
"There will have to be a deal but, frankly, we really are scratching around at the edges here. There is no fundamental renegotiation on offer."

The Prime Minister had been hoping to jet back to London yesterday for an emergency Cabinet meeting where he would unveil his renegotiation deal.
He would then have fired the starting gun for the EU referendum campaign and release the gag on ministers wanting to back Brexit.
As he was negotiating in Brussels, the Prime Minister was last night accused of a “ridiculous” bid to sign up leading businesses to the campaign for Britain remaining in the EU even before he has secured a deal.
According to the Daily Telegraph, at least 80 of Britain’s biggest companies are poised to come out in support of retaining the UK’s relationship with Brussels, whatever the outcome of Mr Cameron’s renegotiation.
One eurosceptic minister told the newspaper: “It seems ridiculous to be touting for business support for the deal is even done”.
Posted by at
Labels: ,

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)