In November, Cameron set out reform demands made up of four key objectives, including protecting the single market for Britain and others outside the eurozone; exempting Britain from “ever-closer union” and bolstering national parliaments; enhancing competitiveness in the EU and limiting EU migrants’ benefits in Britain.
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“I believe that 2016 will be the year we achieve something really vital, fundamentally changing the UK’s relationship with the European Union and finally addressing the concerns of the the British people about our membership”, Cameron told a press conference after a two-day summit.
“Are we going to find the flexibility to address the concerns of the United Kingdom and work together to fix this?”
Germany’s Angela Merkel, Europe’s most influential leader, said there reamained a widespread will to reach an agreement to keep Britain in the EU.
“Europe needs the healthy Euroscepticism of the UK but we can’t agree to exceptions just because it’s the UK that wants it. If we’re agreeing with flexibility then what will be made available to the UK should be made available to all member states”, Muscat said.
Cameron’s goal is to get agreement at a February 18-19 summit, which could mean a referendum as early as June.
Cameron says he will argue to stay as long as he gets a new deal for Britain, but a strong contingent within his Conservative Party favors leaving the EU.
The PM, who is known to favour a vote in 2016, would not be drawn on claims that next June was being targeted, saying that the substance of the negotiations were more important than the timing.
She told Mr Cameron he would have to “compromise” on his plans in order to work around the EU’s fundamental principles of free movement and non-discrimination.
Mr Cameron has said the idea is still “on the table” and no alternatives have yet been formally mooted – although he has stressed he is ready to consider other options that would reduce “pull factors” for incomers. “They are paying tax like everyone else, they are entitled to those benefits in my view”, he said.
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“If the government pursues this strategy to not allow them to access in work benefits it actually becomes very discriminatory, and therefore there is a legal problem about that”.
