PM demands EU migrant deal
At his final meeting in Europe, Cameron says free movement must be reformed for Britain to reach deal on exit
DAVID CAMERON has told the EU it must reform freedom of movement rules if Britain is to maintain close economic ties with the Continent in the wake of the referendum.
In his final meeting with EU leaders in Brussels before standing down as Prime Minister, Mr Cameron claimed that voters backed Brexit because they believe the country has “no control” of its borders.
Setting out the basis for a future deal with the EU, he said that Britain would only be able to maintain access to the single market if the bloc agrees to look again at its policy of open borders.
Mr Cameron’s comments will be seen as a sign that senior Government figures believe that Britain will be able to negotiate an “exit package” with the EU over the coming months. That could allow Britain to retain access to the single market without having to accept unlimited immigration from the EU.
Meanwhile, EU leaders appear split over whether to attempt to negotiate a deal which would allow Britain to maintain economic ties with the EU despite the referendum result.
Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, yesterday attempted to ban nations from negotiating with the UK until Article 50 – the formal mechanism for leaving the EU – is triggered.
But Eastern European nations, including Poland, want to speak with British leaders in the hope that a deal can be struck.
At a press conference last night, Mr Cameron said that European leaders expressed “sadness and regret” over Britain’s decision to leave the EU.
In an emotional statement, Mr Cameron also expressed his dismay that this would be his last appearance at a European Council.
He added that he would do all he can to ensure his successor keeps a “very close relationship” with the EU.
Mr Cameron told leaders including Angela Merkel and François Hollande that he lost the referendum last week in large part because voters did not feel that their concerns over immigration had been addressed. Speaking before last night’s dinner, a Government source said that Mr Cameron believes “that one of the key issues in the referendum campaign, why so many voted to Leave, is this sense that there was no control of freedom of movement”.
The source added: “[Mr Cameron] believes many in the UK do want a close economic relationship with the EU. If the EU wants a close economic relationship with the UK, then that does mean you are going to have to work out how do you address the issue of freedom of movement as part of that negotiation.” The source added: “His real aim here is to build a constructive spirit and mood for the discussions that are going to follow and the process of the UK leaving the EU.”
Mr Cameron’s comments will put the debate over freedom of movement rules at the heart of the contest to become the next leader of the Conservative Party. Boris Johnson, considered the frontrunner, wants continued access to the single market when Britain leaves the EU and wants an Australianstyle points-based immigration system to control the number of foreigners coming to the UK.
A source close to Mr Johnson said yesterday: “He would end free movement, what we need is to take back control. We need a fair and balanced immigration policy to meet the needs of our economy. Numbers are currently too high.”
Ahead of the referendum Theresa May, the Home Secretary, said that
freedom of movement rules would need further reform even if Britain had voted to remain in the EU.
The Prime Minister also used last night’s dinner to suggest to his counterparts that there is a risk of other EU countries holding referendums if something is not done to reform freedom of movement rules, which allow EU citizens to live and work anywhere in the bloc.
Mrs Merkel said that the dinner was a “sad and sober occasion”, but the leaders of the other states would “not waste too much time on mourning”.
During his renegotiation with Brussels, Mr Cameron asked for an emergency brake on EU migration. However, it was vetoed by the German chancellor.
In the end, Mr Cameron only secured a one-off temporary reduction in migrants’ entitlement to benefits, which was described as “irrelevant” by Eurosceptics.
A Number 10 source added: “While making clear it is a matter for the next prime minister and the next government to determine what relationship the UK seeks afterwards, [the Prime Minister] will say that in his view it is in the interests of the EU and UK that we have as close an economic relationship as possible and that the key to staying close is really to look at reform to free movement.”
Meanwhile, Poland joined the Czech Republic in demanding Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, step down.
Witold Waszczykowski, the Polish foreign minister, demanded that powers be stripped from the Commission and handed to national governments.
He said Mr Juncker had lost the “right” to “fix” Europe, adding: “New politicians, new commissioners should undertake this task.”
Mr Juncker, reputed to be a heavy drinker and smoker, hit back at growing press criticism of his health.
“I’m not tired. I’m not sick,” he said. “Apparently doctors are journalists nowadays. Until my last breath I will fight for a united Europe.”
In an attempt to increase the pressure on the British to activate the Article 50 exit clause, Mr Juncker said he had issued a “presidential ban” on all contact between Britain and the EU, meaning there will be “no secret nego- tiations behind closed doors in smokefilled rooms”.
Mr Juncker said chaos on the stock markets would force Mr Cameron to the negotiating table. He added: “The British vote has cut off one of our wings, but we are still flying”.
He also criticised British Eurosceptics, saying: “What I don’t understand is how those who wanted to leave are totally unable to tell us what they want.”
Mrs Merkel on Monday said that Germany wanted a “close relationship” with Britain but said it would come with a series of conditions. In comments that appear to put her at odds with Mr Cameron, she added: “We will ensure that the negotiations will not be run on the principle of cherry-picking.
“Whoever wants to get out of this family cannot expect that all the obligations fall away but the privileges continue to remain in place.”
Mark Rutte, the Dutch prime minister, said it was essential that trade continues, and said leaders needed to give Britain some space before starting exit talks. “I’ve already outlined that England has collapsed politically, monetarily, constitutionally and economically,” he said. “It is not reasonable to demand from them to trigger Article 50.”
Nigel Farage, the Ukip leader, was at the centre of a row yesterday after making a speech hailing the Brexit vote in the European Parliament.
To chants of “shame” and “out, out” from MEPs, Mr Farage said: “When I came here 17 years ago, and I said that I wanted to lead a campaign to get Britain to leave the European Union, you all laughed at me. Well, I have to say, you’re not laughing now, are you?”
Meanwhile, Barack Obama said that there had been “a little bit of hysteria post-Brexit vote, as if somehow Nato’s gone, the trans-Atlantic alliance is dissolving, and every country is rushing off to its own corner. That’s not what’s happening.”
Mr Obama added: “The best way to think about this is, a pause button has been pressed on the project of full European integration.”
Paul Ryan, the Republican Speaker of the US House of Representatives, said there should be a new trade relationship with the UK, “our indispensable ally”.
‘England has collapsed politically, monetarily, constitutionally and economically’