Britain into Referendum after ’Special Status’ Deal with EU
Local Editor
British PM David Cameron announced that a deal struck with EU leaders will give the UK "special status" and he will campaign with his "heart and soul" to stay in the union.
The agreement, reached late on Friday after two days of talks in Brussels, gives the UK power to limit some EU migrants' benefits.
It also includes a treaty change so the UK is not bound to "ever closer union" with other EU member states, he said.
Cameron is set to the announce the date of a referendum on whether Britain should remain in the EU after a cabinet meeting- the referendum is widely expected to be Thursday, 23 June.
Once the date is announced, ministers will be allowed to campaign for whichever side they want - one of Cameron's closest political allies Michael Gove has already been named as supporting the Leave camp. Others, such as Iain Duncan Smith are expected to follow - but a question mark remains over which way London Mayor Boris Johnson will jump.
An "emergency brake" on migrants' in-work benefits for four years when there are "exceptional" levels of migration. The UK will be able to operate the brake for seven years
Child benefit for the children of EU migrants living overseas will now be paid at a rate based on the cost of living in their home country - applicable immediately for new arrivals and from 2020 for the 34,000 existing claimants.
The amending of EU treaties to state explicitly that references to the requirement to seek ever-closer union "do not apply to the United Kingdom", meaning Britain "can never be forced into political integration"
Cameron had originally wanted a complete ban on migrants sending child benefit abroad but had to compromise after some eastern European states rejected a complete ban and also insisted that existing claimants should continue to receive the full payment.
The agreement on renegotiating the UK's EU membership was announced by European Council president Donald Tusk, who tweeted: "Deal. Unanimous support for new settlement for #UKinEU."
German Chancellor Angela Merkel predicted the package of reforms would "elicit support in the UK for the country to remain in the EU".
Tusk said it "strengthens Britain's special status", while EU Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker described it as "fair".
"I deeply believe the UK needs Europe and Europe needs the UK. But the final decision is in the hands of the British people."
Cameron said he had achieved the reforms he wanted, claiming they would put the UK "in the driving seat" of one of the world's biggest markets and create a "more flexible" EU.
The prime minister said he had also protected Britain from further political integration inside the EU, adding: "Let me put this as simply as I can: Britain will never be part of a European super state."
"The British people must now decide whether to stay in this reformed European Union or to leave. This will be a once-in-a-generation moment to shape the destiny of our country."
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said it was now "more important than ever" that those who supported Scotland's continued EU membership made the case "as strongly as possible".
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
Comments
- Related News
