Brussels, 26/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 25 June, the British prime minister, David Cameron, briefly explained his views to the other European leaders ahead of the United Kingdom's referendum on whether it should remain in the EU, a referendum that will held by 2017. He felt that he had achieved the most important aspect, which was to officially launch renegotiation of the UK's relationship with its European partners.
The discussion lasted ten minutes in the middle of laborious talks about immigration (see related article) and the only intervention was by the Belgian prime minister, Charles Michel.
The British leader said he was delighted that the process (of reform, renegotiation and the referendum to be held in the UK) had now been launched. He said people always told him it wasn't possible that that it could never be done, but once again, they had proved that they were going to do it.
The European Summit's conclusions on the United Kingdom are very brief and simply state that Cameron had announced the referendum. December's summit will return to the matter.
Some European leaders took note of the UK's statements, while others warned about crossing red lines. The French president, François Hollande, said the UK had expressed its desire to work on arrangements with European countries of which the exact content is not yet known, and neither are the legal consequences that would enable the British government to move towards a referendum in 2016. The Irish prime minister, Enda Kenny, said they would be constructive and back changes to make the EU more efficient and impact on growth and jobs, but wouldn't be following everything he suggested. The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, said they hadn't discussed procedures and it was in their interest for the UK to remain in the EU. First the objectives should be examined, she said, followed by the means.
Some British media say Cameron told his peers that it would be difficult for him to win changes to the treaties ahead of the referendum. He is reported to have accepted the idea that he will only be able to secure modest changes.
Cameron said at the closure of the summit on Friday 26 June that the EU had to change and the EU-UK relationship had to change. The conservative prime minister said that progress had already been made on the question of reform, such as the reduction in the EU budget, a reduction in red tape and conclusion of the single market, but more reforms were needed. (Solenn Paulic with LC, PH, AN, CG)