Cameron wins deal for �special status� in EU

British Prime Minister David Cameron on Friday sealed a deal for “special status” in the EU after a marathon summit, paving the way for him to campaign to stay in the bloc in a historic referendum, reports AFP.
The unanimous agreement came after two days and nights of intense negotiations in Brussels, despite European leaders digging in their heels on all the major reforms Cameron sought.
The British premier will hold an emergency cabinet meeting on yesterday as he embarks on the difficult process of selling the deal at home ahead of the referendum, expected on June 23.
“I’ve negotiated a deal to give the UK special status in the European Union,” Cameron told a press conference.
“I will be campaigning with all my heart and soul to persuade the British people to remain in the reformed European Union that we have secured today.”
He said the deal contained a seven-year “emergency brake” on welfare payments for EU migrants and meant Britain would be “permanently out of ever closer union”.
While Britain’s place in the EU now rests in the hands of the British public, the deal removes one major headache for the bloc as it faces the biggest migration crisis in Europe’s history.
EU president Donald Tusk—the man who brokered the deal—said the “unanimous” agreement “strengthens Britain’s special status in the EU” and was “legally binding and irreversible”.
‘Fair compromise’ German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Europe’s most powerful leader, said the accord was a “fair compromise”.
“I do not think that we gave too much to Great Britain,” she said.
French President Francois Hollande, meanwhile, insisted that the British deal contained “no exceptions to the rules” of the EU.
Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite, the first to break the news of the agreement, tweeted: “Drama over.”
Yet the drama is only just beginning for Cameron, as he battles eurosceptic members of his own Conservative Party and a hostile popular media.
Britain’s newspapers went to press shortly before the deal was officially announced, and most of Saturday’s editions focussed on the expected announcement that Cameron’s long-time ally Michael Gove was to support a “Brexit”.

 

Cameron wins deal for �special status� in EU

British Prime Minister David Cameron on Friday sealed a deal for special status in the EU after a marathon summit, paving the way for him to campaign to stay in the bloc in a historic referendum, reports AFP. The unanimous agreement came after two days and nights of intense negotiations in Brussels, despite European leaders digging in their heels on all the major reforms Cameron sought. The British premier will hold an emergency cabinet meeting on yesterday as he embarks on the difficult process of selling the deal at home ahead of the referendum, expected on June 23. Ive negotiated a deal to give the UK special status in the European Union, Cameron told a press conference. I will be campaigning with all my heart and soul to persuade the British people to remain in the reformed European Union that we have secured today. He said the deal contained a seven-year emergency brake on welfare payments for EU migrants and meant Britain would be permanently out of ever closer union. While Britains place in the EU now rests in the hands of the British public, the deal removes one major headache for the bloc as it faces the biggest migration crisis in Europes history. EU president Donald Tuskthe man who brokered the dealsaid the unanimous agreement strengthens Britains special status in the EU and was legally binding and irreversible. Fair compromise German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Europes most powerful leader, said the accord was a fair compromise. I do not think that we gave too much to Great Britain, she said. French President Francois Hollande, meanwhile, insisted that the British deal contained no exceptions to the rules of the EU. Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite, the first to break the news of the agreement, tweeted: Drama over. Yet the drama is only just beginning for Cameron, as he battles eurosceptic members of his own Conservative Party and a hostile popular media. Britains newspapers went to press shortly before the deal was officially announced, and most of Saturdays editions focussed on the expected announcement that Camerons long-time ally Michael Gove was to support a Brexit.