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| Cameron's EU 'whistle-stop' tour: Mission accomplished? | Cameron's EU 'whistle-stop' tour: Mission accomplished? |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| There was a lot of talk of shuttle diplomacy this week and of David Cameron's "whistle-stop tour of Europe", but in the end the British prime minister actually only popped in to four European capitals between Thursday morning and Friday afternoon. | There was a lot of talk of shuttle diplomacy this week and of David Cameron's "whistle-stop tour of Europe", but in the end the British prime minister actually only popped in to four European capitals between Thursday morning and Friday afternoon. |
| So did the trip merit the fanfare? Was it a success? | So did the trip merit the fanfare? Was it a success? |
| Well, when the most powerful woman in the world (that is, Angela Merkel) responds to the prime minister's wish-list for a different kind of EU with "where there's a will there's a way" and says that, yes, treaty change might indeed be possible - that must sound like success to him. | Well, when the most powerful woman in the world (that is, Angela Merkel) responds to the prime minister's wish-list for a different kind of EU with "where there's a will there's a way" and says that, yes, treaty change might indeed be possible - that must sound like success to him. |
| The European tour this week served a definite purpose. In the long run-up to the UK general election, David Cameron and his ministers irritated a fair few by grandstanding and performing to the Eurosceptic gallery at home while abroad on EU business. | |
| This was a chance to try to repair burned bridges. | |
| Appetite for change | Appetite for change |
| Before the nitty-gritty and sometimes probably nasty process of negotiating a new EU relationship for Britain, this was a chance for the prime minister to say to other leaders: "Look, this is not about the UK versus the rest of Europe. We do have a lot in common." | Before the nitty-gritty and sometimes probably nasty process of negotiating a new EU relationship for Britain, this was a chance for the prime minister to say to other leaders: "Look, this is not about the UK versus the rest of Europe. We do have a lot in common." |
| What Europe's leaders want to feel from Britain as its seeks to change the EU is that this is a process, not a diktat. | What Europe's leaders want to feel from Britain as its seeks to change the EU is that this is a process, not a diktat. |
| In this pre-negotiation stage, tone is as important as content. | In this pre-negotiation stage, tone is as important as content. |
| So, in Paris, Mr Cameron carefully listed issues where France and Britain stand side-by-side; while in the Netherlands, he described the country as an old friend and like-minded ally. | So, in Paris, Mr Cameron carefully listed issues where France and Britain stand side-by-side; while in the Netherlands, he described the country as an old friend and like-minded ally. |
| Mr Cameron needs other EU leaders onside to pass meaningful reforms. | Mr Cameron needs other EU leaders onside to pass meaningful reforms. |
| This week's four tour stops were carefully chosen. | This week's four tour stops were carefully chosen. |
| The Netherlands and Germany are generally UK-friendly: open to more competitiveness, a stronger single market and less red tape. | The Netherlands and Germany are generally UK-friendly: open to more competitiveness, a stronger single market and less red tape. |
| France is trickier but, alongside Germany, a traditional EU heavyweight - and therefore a must-visit - while Poland is the emerging new EU power. | France is trickier but, alongside Germany, a traditional EU heavyweight - and therefore a must-visit - while Poland is the emerging new EU power. |
| It is Britain's ally over tough sanctions against Russia but, as we saw in the rather uncomfortable press conference with Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz on Friday, Poland will be a fierce opponent of scrapping migrant benefits. | It is Britain's ally over tough sanctions against Russia but, as we saw in the rather uncomfortable press conference with Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz on Friday, Poland will be a fierce opponent of scrapping migrant benefits. |
| On his travels David Cameron found a widespread appetite for change. The tricky part will be persuading other EU leaders that his way is the best way. | On his travels David Cameron found a widespread appetite for change. The tricky part will be persuading other EU leaders that his way is the best way. |
| But when it comes to the EU's most powerful country, Germany, the details of this trip were less important. | But when it comes to the EU's most powerful country, Germany, the details of this trip were less important. |
| Chancellor Merkel, ever the pragmatist, has an eye on the big picture - Europe on the the world stage. | Chancellor Merkel, ever the pragmatist, has an eye on the big picture - Europe on the the world stage. |
| She worries that the EU without the British economy, the British military and British diplomatic expertise is weaker and more fragmented in the face of a ruthlessly ambitious China and, in particular, having grown up in communist East Germany, of a newly aggressive Russia just next door. | She worries that the EU without the British economy, the British military and British diplomatic expertise is weaker and more fragmented in the face of a ruthlessly ambitious China and, in particular, having grown up in communist East Germany, of a newly aggressive Russia just next door. |
| Angela Merkel, normally so risk averse, was uncharacteristically outspoken standing side-by-side with David Cameron. | Angela Merkel, normally so risk averse, was uncharacteristically outspoken standing side-by-side with David Cameron. |
| "I want to find a solution," she said to him. | "I want to find a solution," she said to him. |
| And generally in the EU, when Germany speaks, others follow. | And generally in the EU, when Germany speaks, others follow. |