EU struggles to seal Brexit deal

IN LIMBO Top leaders of member-states nowhere near finalising Britain’s membership demands

LONDON: Tough bargaining and major differences on issues such as migration and British f i nancial benefits f or EU citizens marked the second day of the European Council summit, holding up a deal on Britain’s membership of the 28-member bloc.

Top leaders of EU memberstates were locked in talks overnight, but they were nowhere near a final deal on Britain’s demands to reform the terms of membership. Some called it British “blackmail” while others remained optimistic of the outcome.

Greece wanted a bargain: it would support Britain’s case provided it received backing for the challenges it faced on migration of Syrian and other refugees, many of whom first reach Greece before moving to other European countries.

Reflecting entrenched positions on the key issue of state f i nancial benefits f or EU migrants in Britain, the office of Poland’s Prime Minister Beata Szydło confirmed Prime Minister David Cameron’s proposed restrictions remained a “particularly difficult” issue. Thousands of Poles moved to Britain after the country was admitted to the EU in 2004.

Both Cameron and European Council president Donald Tusk claimed “some progress”, but admitted there was much ground to be covered before a deal could be agreed and announced.

There are high political stakes for Cameron to secure a deal that he can sell to the British public in a referendum, which he has promised by the end of 2017, but is keen to hold as soon as possible. June 23 is said to be the most likely date.

Cameron reiterated on Friday he would not take a deal that is not beneficial to Britain. Returning from Brussels without a deal after months of intense negotiations is unlikely to enhance his ratings.