Brussels, 10/11/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 10 November, the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, officially launched talks with his European partners on the reforms he would like to see in the EU and has written to this effect to the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk.
This letter, which was highly anticipated by Cameron's peers and presented by the Conservative Prime Minister in a speech before the Chatham House think tank, lists the reforms called for by London in four key areas: economic governance, competitiveness, subsidiarity and immigration. These renegotiations will then feed into the referendum on the United Kingdom's membership of the EU, which David Cameron has promised his electorate before the end of 2017 and which could even be brought forward to May 2016, if the Europeans are inclined to act upon his suggestions.
During his speech, David Cameron said that he was confident that a deal would be reached with his European counterparts. The Tory leader also several times stressed the positive aspects of EU membership, particularly in terms of both national and economic security. On intra-European immigration in particular, the Prime Minister appeared less categorical than in the past. Although he repeated that he wished to limit access by Europeans to British social benefits - European migrants would have to live and work in the United Kingdom for four years before they can claim any housing or social benefit - David Cameron said that he understood that the issue of the freedom of movement was sensitive for the other member states and that “other ways” could be found to reach the same objective.
Describing his approach as “reasonable”, the Prime Minister nonetheless warned that if he was unsuccessful and the European leaders did not pay his requests, which he feels are beneficial for all member states, the attention they require, “we will have to ask again whether Europe is right for us”, he said.
David Cameron once again ruled out any second referendum in the event of victory for the 'no' vote in the referendum on the question of staying in, calling on all stakeholders, but also all citizens and each British family, to take their responsibilities when they vote.
As for the form these changes will take, this will be central to the negotiations, David Cameron explained. However, he is calling for “legally binding” changes and does not imagine that these reforms could possibly fail to call for Treaty reform, he said.
As regards economic governance, the British government is hoping to secure a range of principles, such as the fact that the EU should have several currencies and not just the euro, that the integration of the eurozone must not be to the detriment of the countries which are not members of it and that any innovation, such as banking union, should remain voluntary for non-eurozone countries. Additionally, British taxpayers should under no circumstances have to pay for operations to support the euro.
On competitiveness, the Prime Minister said that progress has been made in terms of drafting legislation, but that the level of regulation is still too high. He argues that there should be a regulation quota which must not be exceeded, although he did not specify whether this should be annual. The idea in any case is to ensure the lowest possible burden on businesses.
On subsidiarity, David Cameron reiterated his calls for a 'red card' system for the national parliaments, which would then be able to block undesired legislation, above a certain numerical threshold. The principle laid down in the Treaty that the EU should move towards being an “ever-closer Union” should not have to apply strictly to the United Kingdom. David Cameron also expects concrete proposals on the implementation of subsidiarity. In the area of 'Justice and Home Affairs', the country should be able to continue to decide whether or not it participates in the policies carried out.
On immigration, the United Kingdom will remain an open nation, but nonetheless wishes to insist that any new country joining the EU is not given the right to the freedom of movement to the other countries, if the respective economies are not convergent. Cameron also intends to impose bans on readmission to British soil for social benefit fraudsters, but also for criminals, the letter adds.
The freedom of movement, a “highly problematic” issue
The European Commission confirmed through its spokesperson, Margaritis Schinas, that it had also received a copy of this letter and that it was getting ready to “analyse” it. The institution stresses that this is just the start of the process and that the role of the Executive will be to ensure that Community law is respected, a source explained. However, the institution already indicated on Tuesday that although certain requests seem “achievable”, others appear more “difficult”, or even “highly problematic”, Schinas continued.
For instance, David Cameron's calls to reinforce the role of national parliaments and to give them the option, on the basis of a required numerical threshold, to block undesired legislation seems possible in the view of the Commission, but the UK's request to derogate from the principle of an ever-closer European Union seems more “difficult”, as do its demands on relations between euro and non-euro member states.
Furthermore, Cameron's intention of limiting Europeans' rights to receive social benefits will prove “highly problematic”, as it constitutes a violation of the fundamental rules of the single market and “direct discrimination” against European citizens, said Margaritis Schinas.
According to AFP, the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, is reported to have said that she was “confident” that a deal could be reached to allow the UK to stay in the EU. Donald Tusk said that bilateral discussions on the British wish list would start next week, and that he is to report back at the December European summit.
This Tuesday, the British Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, was to meet the President of the Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, on the sidelines of the Ecofin Council.
EP opposes discrimination between citizens
Over at the European Parliament, the EP group said that “although we are prepared to listen to the requirements of the British people, the fundamental liberties on which the EU was built are not negotiable”, said Germany's Manfred Weber. “The United Kingdom must respect the right of the European citizens to free movement, as all of the other European states respect this right for British citizens”, said the President of the EPP, Joseph Daul. “The EPP wants the United Kingdom to remain a member of the European Union. We are prepared to work together with the British government to find an agreement which is acceptable to all parties. We share David Cameron's point of view on the need to increase competitiveness and to reduce the burdens weighing down the businesses of Europe. These points are already included in the working programme of the Juncker Commission. It should also be possible to reach an agreement on other subjects, for instance the need to increase the role of the national parliaments”, Manfred Weber added.
The leader of the S&D group at the EP, Gianni Pittella, stressed that both sides mutually benefited from the United Kingdom's membership of the EU. The Italian welcomed the fact that David Cameron did not go further in terms of unravelling social Europe, but stressed that his group would take position against discrimination between European citizens. The President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, for his part expressed serious doubts as to the legality of making social benefits conditional on four years of residence on British soil. ALDE said that Cameron's demands were a good way of kicking off a debate on the reforms the EU needs, but that the United Kingdom could not get in the way of the other member states' desire for greater integration. The President of the group, Guy Verhofstadt, also reminded Cameron that his invitation to come and debate the subject at the EP was still open. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)