Following two days and nights of talks in the Belgian capital Brussels, the European Union leaders unanimously supported Cameron’s proposed reforms on Friday night to keep his country in the European Union, avoiding a much-feared “Brexit”.
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“The settlement addresses all of PM Cameron’s concerns without compromising our fundamental values”, Tusk said.
“It would be very, very damaging for Great Britain… and I think it would be the start, most likely, of the breakup of the European Union”, he told Sky News.
David Cameron hailed the landmark deal which gave Britain “special status” in the European Union and pledged to put his “heart and soul” into the campaign to stay in the EU. The EU immigrants can also claim child tax credits and other benefits in Britain, which Cameron’s government says is straining his budget. “We should be suspicious of those who say that leaving Europe is some automatic fast track to a land of milk and honey”.
“We all need to step back and consider carefully what is best for Britain, what is best for our future. But no matter what we do here, no matter what face-lifting or face-saving we perform here, it is up to the British people to decide”.
Mr Kenny said it was his “constitutional duty” to stay in Brussels yesterday, even though it meant he missed a second day of canvassing for next week’s General Election.
EU President Donald Tusk, who brokered the deal, said the “unanimous” agreement “strengthens Britain’s special status in the EU” and is “legally binding and irreversible”.
But he acknowledged that one of his closest political allies, Justice Secretary Michael Gove, would campaign to leave the European Union, saying he was disappointed but not surprised.
“The deal does not deepen cracks in our union but builds bridges”. “I suggest we take it”.
It came after France, Belgium and eastern European countries dug in their heels over changes to areas including regulation for non-eurozone countries and benefit payments to EU migrants for 4 years.
UK Prime Minister David Cameron had been aiming to seal an agreement that he could sell to the British people in a vote that can be called as early as June. “I will be recommending it to Cabinet tomorrow”.
Estonian Prime Minister Taavi Roives acknowledged that leaders at the summit are “pursuing our national interests” but said they all want Cameron to get the deal he needs.
Mr Cameron has previously promised to suspend the principle of collective responsibility after the meeting, giving a green light to Eurosceptic ministers like Iain Duncan Smith and Chris Grayling to go out and campaign for Britain to leave Europe without having to quit their jobs.
This rate – usually lower than that paid to British parents – will be applicable immediately to all new migrants with children living overseas after the agreement comes into force. Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen announced when he arrived for the summit that his most important priority would be to secure child benefit indexation for all member states.
British Prime Minister David Cameron leaves the working dinner at the end of an European Union (EU) summit in Brussels, on February 19, 2016.
But Eurosceptics – including many within Mr Cameron’s Conservative Party – dismissed the package as meaningless and said only withdrawal could restore sufficient powers to the country from Brussels. Other EU leaders agreed to this because neither the United Kingdom, nor any other country, would have a veto.
Downing Street indicated that it expected to hold a crunch cabinet meeting in No 10 just after breakfast.
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A report Wednesday in The Guardian newspaper said four Eastern European countries – Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic – had rejected Britain’s proposals to limit benefits for migrant workers.
