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Britain Receives Proposals for ‘Better Deal’ on E.U. Membership Britain Receives Proposals for ‘Better Deal’ on E.U. Membership
(about 1 hour later)
LONDON — A package of concessions intended to persuade Britons to remain in the European Union was published on Tuesday, in a move that could help clear the way for a referendum in June on the country’s membership in the bloc. LONDON — A top European official offered a package of concessions intended to persuade Britons to remain in the European Union on Tuesday, an effort to balance demands from Britain for a “better deal” with the interests of the bloc’s other 27 member states.
The plans, drafted by the president of the European Council, Donald Tusk, are the result of intense discussions over demands for changes from Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain. What is perhaps most significant, the document, written by Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, would allow Britain to apply an “emergency brake” if large numbers of people arrive in the country, enabling the government to withhold the payment of welfare benefits to non-Britons from the European Union.
Mr. Cameron, who wants to negotiate what he calls a “better deal” from the European Union for Britain so that he can recommend it to voters when he calls the referendum, welcomed the document. The report also includes safeguards for Britain’s financial industry, calls for a commitment to simplify red tape and reduce the burden on businesses, and would allow national parliaments to band together to override European Union legislation.
He told the BBC that there had been “real progress,” adding that there was “more work to be done, more detail to be nailed down, but we said we needed to deliver in four key areas — this document shows real progress on that front.” Mr. Cameron welcomed the release of the report, which could help clear the way for a referendum in June on Britain’s membership in the European Union. There was “more work to be done, more detail to be nailed down,” he told the BBC, “but we said we needed to deliver in four key areas — this document shows real progress on that front.”
He was expected to respond more fully to the proposals in a speech later on Tuesday. Many members of Mr. Cameron’s own Conservative Party favor leaving the European Union, and with some of those critics arguing that the package was insufficient, it was not immediately clear whether the concessions announced on Tuesday would be enough to satisfy enough Britons to stay in the bloc. Mr. Cameron was expected to respond more fully to the proposals in a speech later on Tuesday.
Any deal would first need the approval of the other 27 European Union nations, who will gather at a summit meeting scheduled for mid-February, and Mr. Tusk has faced a delicate balancing act in crafting his document. The plans, which are the product of intense discussions over demands for changes from Mr. Cameron, represent a crucial step, but not the final one. Any deal would first need the approval of the other 27 European Union nations, who will gather at a summit meeting scheduled for mid-February. Mr. Tusk has faced a delicate balancing act in crafting his document, and Mr. Cameron will confront an equally difficult task in selling it to British voters.
Although Mr. Tusk’s proposals were complex and detailed, the bigger picture is much clearer. A British decision to leave the union — a so-called Brexit — could deal a hugely damaging blow to decades of European integration, and to a bloc that is already struggling to deal with a huge influx of migrants. “To my mind it goes really far in addressing all the concerns raised by Prime Minister Cameron,” Mr. Tusk wrote in a letter accompanying the release of the document. “The line I did not cross, however, were the principles on which the European project is founded”
Although Mr. Tusk’s proposals were complex and detailed, the bigger picture is much clearer. A British decision to leave the union — a so-called Brexit — could deal a hugely damaging blow to decades of European integration, and further hobble a bloc that is already struggling to deal with a huge influx of migrants.
For Britain, much is at stake, too, because a departure could restrict its access to the union’s huge single market. The United States and other major powers have already expressed their preference that Britain remain in the bloc.For Britain, much is at stake, too, because a departure could restrict its access to the union’s huge single market. The United States and other major powers have already expressed their preference that Britain remain in the bloc.
The most delicate issue on the table is Mr. Cameron’s call for the right to restrict welfare benefits for up to four years for non-British citizens of European Union countries. The most delicate issue on the table was Mr. Cameron’s call for the right to restrict welfare benefits for non-British citizens of European Union countries, namely by limiting access to “in-work” payments that typically supplement the earnings of low-wage employees.
Mr. Cameron’s proposal is seen by some nations, most notably in Eastern Europe, as a breach of the principle that all European Union citizens should be treated equally across the bloc. These curbs could apply for up to four years, and the document published on Tuesday states that the scale of immigration Britain has experienced would justify them.
Mr. Tusk’s document lays out proposals that would allow Britain to apply an “emergency brake” if large numbers of people arrive in Britain, enabling the government to withhold the benefits to non-Britons from the bloc, including so-called in-work payments that typically supplement the earnings of low-wage workers. Mr. Cameron’s proposal was seen by some nations, most notably in Eastern Europe, as a breach of the principle that all European Union citizens should be treated equally across the bloc.
Plans would also be drawn up to reduce the “child benefit” payments to workers whose children have not accompanied them to Britain. This plan would involve Britain’s paying the amount offered by the nation where the child lives — which is significantly less in countries like Poland than it is in Britain.
The plan also provides safeguards to the large financial sector in Britain, which decided to keep the pound rather than adopt the euro. The British government worries that, as the 19 nations that use the single currency integrate further, rules might be skewed against European Union nations that do not.The plan also provides safeguards to the large financial sector in Britain, which decided to keep the pound rather than adopt the euro. The British government worries that, as the 19 nations that use the single currency integrate further, rules might be skewed against European Union nations that do not.
There is also a provision to allow European Union legislation to be blocked if enough national parliaments oppose them.There is also a provision to allow European Union legislation to be blocked if enough national parliaments oppose them.
Mr. Cameron has promised to hold a referendum by the end of 2017, but most observers say they believe he wants to hold it this year, preferably in June. A delay is widely believed to benefit opponents of membership, particularly if Europe’s migration crisis worsens.Mr. Cameron has promised to hold a referendum by the end of 2017, but most observers say they believe he wants to hold it this year, preferably in June. A delay is widely believed to benefit opponents of membership, particularly if Europe’s migration crisis worsens.
Among Mr. Cameron’s other demands are a call for Britain to opt out of the bloc’s ambition to forge an “ever closer union” in Europe. He has also pushed moves to extend the single market and cut regulation to bolster economic competitiveness. Among Mr. Cameron’s other demands is a call for Britain to opt out of the bloc’s ambition to forge an “ever closer union” in Europe. He has also pushed moves to extend the single market and to cut regulation to bolster economic competitiveness.