How Cameron is struggling

Political Editor JAMES SLACK examines European Council president Donald Tusk’s reply to Mr Cameron’s four key EU demands.

ENSURE FAIRNESS

Protect the single market by guaranteeing fairness between euro and noneuro countries. Stop the 19 countries inside the eurozone from imposing financial rules on Britain which would be to the detriment of the City.

WHAT DID HE GET? A vague pledge to ‘look into the possibility’ of a mechanism that will allow member states that are not in the euro ‘the opportunity to raise concerns… without this turning into a veto right.’ VERDICT: It will not satisfy Tory eurosceptics who wanted Britain to have an outright veto. The existing system shows how easy it is for British protests to be ignored. On the 7 occasions when the UK has voted against a Council measure, it has gone on to become law – including 40 times since Mr Cameron became Prime Minister.

CUT BUSINESS RED TAPE

Cut red-tape for business and ‘write competitiveness into the DNA’ of the EU.

WHAT DID HE GET? Tusk said that ‘everybody agrees on the need to work on better regulation and on lessening the burdens on business while maintaining standards’.

VERDICT: This was always likely to be an easy win for David Cameron. Who – even in Brussels – would argue for the EU to become less competitive?

AN END TO ‘EVER CLOSER UNION’

Exempt Britain from the pledge in the EU’s founding treaty to move towards ‘ever closer union’.

WHAT DID HE GET? Tusk said ‘there is wide agreement that the concept of “ever closer union” allows for various paths of integration for different countries. Those that want to deepen integration can move ahead, while respecting the wish of those who do not want to’.

VERDICT: Another easy – and almost entirely symbolic – victory for the PM. Tusk is essentially saying the phrase means entirely what each country wishes it to. Or, put another way, Brussels isn’t bothered whether Britain opts out or not.

CURB MIGRANT BENEFITS

No in-work benefits or social housing until working migrants have been in Britain for four years. No child benefit or tax credits paid for children living outside the UK.

WHAT DID HE GET? Slapped down. Tusk agreed to an end to sending child benefit abroad, but that was happening anyway under Universal Credit reforms. On the key demand of the entire renegotiation – no in-work benefits for four years there is ‘no consensus’.

VERDICT: The PM will either have to change course or opt for a ‘nondiscriminatory’ system under which British citizens also do not get tax credits for the first four years they work.