UK PM appeals to EU leaders to help reach ‘credible’ deal

PanARMENIAN.Net - Prime Minister David Cameron appealed to EU leaders on Thursday, Feb 18, to help him settle the question of Britain's European Union membership for a generation by agreeing a "credible" deal he can sell to the British public to stay in the bloc, Reuters reports.

But after a first round of talks at a two-day summit on renegotiated terms for Britain, UK officials voiced frustration at a lack of practical concessions by partners who are wary of Cameron's bid to side-step EU regulation and cut immigration.

"I would say the going is tough, this could be a long night," a British official told reporters, according to Reuters.

"While many countries were saying they want to help, they want to make sure they keep Britain in the EU, there wasn't much sign of how they are planning to do that in practice, not showing much room for maneuver," the official said.

Diplomats from other countries said no new obstacles had arisen in a 2-1/2-hour session in which most of the 28 leaders set out their national positions, and there was little reason to doubt a deal would be worked out by Friday afternoon.

Many leaders said they were felt a historic turning point for European integration. No country has ever voted to leave the Union, and a British exit could deal a blow to the UK economy and certainly damage the EU's standing and self-confidence.

Summing up how many saw the evening talks playing out, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite said: "I think everybody will have his own drama. And then we will agree."

Prime Minister Enda Kenny, who fears Brexit would be deeply harmful to Ireland, urged leaders to help Cameron. He told peers according to one participant: "You all have your problems but no one has bigger problems than David. He’s got half his cabinet against him, he’s got half his party against him.

France and Germany sought to ensure Britain would not obstruct further euro zone integration or let its banks duck EU financial regulations. East European countries sought to limit reductions in benefits for their nationals. And Belgium demanded a guarantee that this would be the last British renegotiation.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that despite some obstacles remaining, she had "the attitude that we gladly want to do everything to create the conditions so Britain can remain a part of the European Union".

French President Francois Hollande also said he wants Britain to stay in the EU but not to the detriment of the EU.