Cameron has succeeded in securing a UK deal to stay in the European Union with unanimous support from all 28 member states.
Prime Minister David Cameron has finally reached a deal with European Union leaders following two days of negotiation at the EU council summit held in Brussels.
The discussion was key to Cameron’s decision to campaign staying in the EU or opting out. As a result, the British people are due to vote to stay in or out of the EU during a referendum scheduled June this year.
Cameron’s proposed UK deal and reforms reportedly include:
- Changes to EU migrants’ access to benefits in the UK with a seven-year emergency brake on migrant welfare.
- Child benefits curbs to claimants from 2020, the right for Britain to opt out from any ambition to a “ever closer union”.
- Protection for the City of London from regulations which aim at safeguarding the Eurozone countries.
On Eurozone, UK will be able to enact emergency safeguards to protect City and British biz..
— Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak) 19 Febbraio 2016
Leaked Brexit draft: non-euro emergency brake can be pulled by one country. Win for Cameron pic.twitter.com/P7Twyma0nx
— Alex Barker (@alexebarker) 19 Febbraio 2016
The PM’s plan to secure a deal has been hit by delays caused by several opposing EU leaders’. Cameron was confident to reach an agreement by this morning during a “British breakfast”, but his hopes were later delayed to “dinner time” when the deal was finally announced.
Cameron has scheduled a cabinet meeting for tomorrow in which he will recommend the deal to his government. The PM has already stated that ministers will be free to choose either side in the referendum.
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.
— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) 19 Febbraio 2016
Sub-edited by Aylin Kaya