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Finally. In the past few minutes, EU leaders have reached a deal on David Cameron’s renegotiation of Britain’s relationship with Europe which gives the UK ‘special status’ in the EU. As is now traditional, Donald Tusk’s Twitter feed is first with the news.
Deal. Unanimous support for new settlement for #UKinEU
Details of the deal are starting to leak, including a seven-year limit to Cameron’s so-called “emergency brake” on migrant benefits and an addition to the text that makes it clear that references to “ever-closer union” do not apply to the United Kingdom. The leaders have also agreed to a non-euro emergency brake which will entitle one non-euro EU member to raise its concerns about a decision imposed on it by a majority of member states. The EU Council of Ministers then has to find a solution to address the concerns.
Curbs on child benefit payment to children remaining in their parent’s home country will only apply to new claims, but from 1 January 2020, member states can also index existing child benefit claims to the ‘conditions’ in the country where the child lives.
We are expecting a press conference shortly, and David Cameron’s Cabinet will meet to discuss the deal tomorrow – and, presumably, the referendum date will be set and the campaign will start.
This deal comes just in time for the UK 10 o’clock news bulletins. So Cameron has an opportunity to sell his deal to the nation, but in the press conference due to follow, it will be interesting to see how much effort he really puts in to trying to sell this as any sort of fundamental recasting of Britain’s relationship with Europe. That may be rather a hard sell. He may try to move swiftly on to talking about the referendum and the overall benefits of membership.
SPECTATOR EVENT: EU REFERENDUM – THE BATTLE AHEADFraser Nelson, James Forsyth and Isabel Hardman will be discussing the forthcoming EU Referendum campaign with pollster Ben Page from Ipsos Mori on 21 March. Tickets, for subscribers only, are on sale now. To subscribe from £1 a week, click here.
Fraser Nelson, James Forsyth and Isabel Hardman will be discussing the forthcoming EU Referendum campaign with pollster Ben Page from Ipsos Mori on 21 March. Tickets, for subscribers only, are on sale now. To subscribe from £1 a week, click here.
Fraser Nelson, James Forsyth and Isabel Hardman will be discussing the forthcoming EU Referendum campaign with pollster Ben Page from Ipsos Mori on 21 March. Tickets, for subscribers only, are on sale now. To subscribe from £1 a week, click here.
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