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| EU referendum: Cameron seeks Polish backing for reform deal | EU referendum: Cameron seeks Polish backing for reform deal |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Poland has said it supports aspects of David Cameron's EU renegotiation package but plans to limit benefits for EU migrants need "further discussion". | Poland has said it supports aspects of David Cameron's EU renegotiation package but plans to limit benefits for EU migrants need "further discussion". |
| Speaking as she met Mr Cameron in Warsaw, Polish PM Beata Szydlo said she backed the UK's plans to boost national sovereignty and raise competitiveness. | Speaking as she met Mr Cameron in Warsaw, Polish PM Beata Szydlo said she backed the UK's plans to boost national sovereignty and raise competitiveness. |
| But she said changes to welfare needed to be "ironed out" to ensure Poles in the UK were not disadvantaged. | But she said changes to welfare needed to be "ironed out" to ensure Poles in the UK were not disadvantaged. |
| Mr Cameron is trying to garner support for an EU-wide deal in two weeks time. | Mr Cameron is trying to garner support for an EU-wide deal in two weeks time. |
| The support of Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia - the so-called the Visegrad group - is seen as crucial if the prime minister is to get an agreement to his draft renegotiation package at a summit of EU leaders on 18 and 19 February, paving the way for a UK referendum in June. | The support of Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia - the so-called the Visegrad group - is seen as crucial if the prime minister is to get an agreement to his draft renegotiation package at a summit of EU leaders on 18 and 19 February, paving the way for a UK referendum in June. |
| Polish workers | Polish workers |
| Proposals to curb EU migrants' benefits are the main sticking point, with Poland and other countries warning that it breaks freedom of movement rules and discriminates against their citizens. | Proposals to curb EU migrants' benefits are the main sticking point, with Poland and other countries warning that it breaks freedom of movement rules and discriminates against their citizens. |
| At a joint press conference in Warsaw, Ms Szydlo said it was "very important" for the UK to remain in the EU and she threw her weight behind at least two of Mr Cameron's four main proposed changes, on giving more power to national Parliaments and slashing regulation to make the EU more dynamic. | At a joint press conference in Warsaw, Ms Szydlo said it was "very important" for the UK to remain in the EU and she threw her weight behind at least two of Mr Cameron's four main proposed changes, on giving more power to national Parliaments and slashing regulation to make the EU more dynamic. |
| "We fully support the prime minister's proposals regarding solutions that are aimed at improving competitiveness, removing red tape and granting proper significance to national parliaments," she said. | "We fully support the prime minister's proposals regarding solutions that are aimed at improving competitiveness, removing red tape and granting proper significance to national parliaments," she said. |
| But she said the welfare changes needed more consideration. "There are always topics that need to be ironed out," she told reporters. "Over a million Poles live and work in Britain. Their work is growing Britain's GDP and we want them to enjoy the same kind of opportunities for development as Britons." | |
| Mr Cameron said he was working towards a "full strategic partnership" between the two countries on a range of issues, including that of security, amid Polish concerns about the growth of Russian influence on its eastern flank and what Nato's response will be. | |
| He said the two countries had "shared interest in making sure that Europe is a Europe that respects and understands the importance of nation states and the role that they play". | |
| Resistance? | Resistance? |
| The draft proposals were published by European Council president Donald Tusk on Tuesday after months of negotiations between UK and EU officials and pave the way for Britain's EU referendum to take place as early as June. | The draft proposals were published by European Council president Donald Tusk on Tuesday after months of negotiations between UK and EU officials and pave the way for Britain's EU referendum to take place as early as June. |
| An EU source close to the negotiations told the BBC the proposals had met initial resistance from many countries and Mr Cameron faced two weeks of "difficult" negotiations before the summit in Brussels. | An EU source close to the negotiations told the BBC the proposals had met initial resistance from many countries and Mr Cameron faced two weeks of "difficult" negotiations before the summit in Brussels. |
| Among the potential sticking points, the source said, were Mr Cameron's proposals on changing the EU rules to make it easier for member states to band together to block EU laws - and plans to protect non-eurozone countries. | Among the potential sticking points, the source said, were Mr Cameron's proposals on changing the EU rules to make it easier for member states to band together to block EU laws - and plans to protect non-eurozone countries. |
| The BBC's Adam Easton said the UK should be "cautiously optimistic" about getting Polish support but there were still differences, particularly over the issue of an "emergency brake" on in-work benefits. | |
| Mr Cameron will later travel to Denmark - a country historically sceptical about the EU and which has opt outs and concerns which are similar to Britain's. | Mr Cameron will later travel to Denmark - a country historically sceptical about the EU and which has opt outs and concerns which are similar to Britain's. |
| Speaking out | Speaking out |
| Meanwhile, in Brussels ambassadors and officials from the 28 member states are meeting for the first time since the proposals were published to try to hammer out further compromises. | |
| Mr Cameron held talks on Thursday at Downing Street with European Parliament President Martin Schulz, who said afterwards the negotiations were "not at the end of the process" but that he was "optimistic" of finding a compromise. | Mr Cameron held talks on Thursday at Downing Street with European Parliament President Martin Schulz, who said afterwards the negotiations were "not at the end of the process" but that he was "optimistic" of finding a compromise. |
| The PM earlier met Mr Tusk, Slovak PM Robert Fico, Greek PM Alexis Tsipras, Swedish PM Stefan Lofven and Belgian PM Charles Michel on the margins of the Syria donors' conference in London. | The PM earlier met Mr Tusk, Slovak PM Robert Fico, Greek PM Alexis Tsipras, Swedish PM Stefan Lofven and Belgian PM Charles Michel on the margins of the Syria donors' conference in London. |
| Countries on the EU's eastern flank, meanwhile, are to meet next week before providing a joint response to the reform package, Hungary's foreign minister said. | Countries on the EU's eastern flank, meanwhile, are to meet next week before providing a joint response to the reform package, Hungary's foreign minister said. |
| Mr Cameron is also under pressure at home from some members of his own cabinet, who have been prevented from speaking out in favour of a British EU exit. | Mr Cameron is also under pressure at home from some members of his own cabinet, who have been prevented from speaking out in favour of a British EU exit. |
| Culture Secretary John Whittingdale refused to rule out campaigning to leave the EU, in an interview with The House magazine, saying he would look at the agreement the prime minister managed to secure. | Culture Secretary John Whittingdale refused to rule out campaigning to leave the EU, in an interview with The House magazine, saying he would look at the agreement the prime minister managed to secure. |
| Further reading on the UK's EU referendum | Further reading on the UK's EU referendum |
| Referendum timeline: What will happen when? | Referendum timeline: What will happen when? |
| Guide: All you need to know about the referendum | Guide: All you need to know about the referendum |
| The view from Europe: What's in it for the others? | The view from Europe: What's in it for the others? |
| More: BBC News EU referendum special | More: BBC News EU referendum special |