BRUSSELS (AP) — A European official says British Prime Minister David Cameron and European Council President Donald Tusk met Sunday night to discuss the EU reforms Britain is asking for ahead of a referendum on continued membership. Following an EU summit on Turkey and the refugee crisis on Sunday afternoon, Cameron and Tusk are holding discussions about which major stumbling blocks remain over the extent of such reforms. The U.K. will hold a referendum on whether or not it should remain in the 28-nation EU by the end of 2017.
Looser relations
Cameron hopes to secure a looser relationship between Britain and the bloc. He hopes to get into detailed negotiations on a deal at a December summit focused on Britain’s EU membership. The EU official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said both Tusk and Cameron know the substance of the reforms, and that the talks were «more about the process itself.» In recent months, Tusk has been speaking to other countries about their preferences for how such a reform would work. Several member countries had previously asked for detailed proposals so that negotiations about Britain’s departure could begin.The EU official said «serious issues» remained and that any agreement on reforms might not be reached in the immediate future.
EU reform-not Brexit
This story has been corrected to say talks are on EU reforms not on Brexit. European Union leaders say they are increasingly frustrated that British Prime Minister David Cameron has not made concrete proposals on reform of the bloc despite all Britain’s talk of possibly leaving unless there is fundamental change. On the eve of a summit of EU leaders where the issue is expected to be only lightly touched upon, EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told the EU Parliament Wednesday that «I can’t say that huge progress has been achieved.» Juncker insisted he wants Britain to remain in the EU but added that «to tango, it takes two. So we have to dance, and ourBritish friends have to dance.» Cameron set out in May to change the way the EU is run and wants to cut the EU’s political powers over member states. He plans to hold a national vote before the end of 2017 on whether Britain should leave the EU — a possibility that has come to be known as a Brexit.
Lunch with Juncker
Ahead of Thursday’s summit, Cameron and Juncker will have lunch together as part of a grand tour by the British leader to European capitals to feel out what reforms could be put on the table. The EU institutions and several member states want to forge ahead and are eagerly awaiting for Britain comes up with its demands, so it is clear to everyone where any reform should be, said one diplomat from an EU nation, who spoke on condition of anonymity because talks were set for Thursday. Britain wants to touch on fundamental social and financial legislation and agreements between member states and make sure nations regain more autonomous decision-making at the expense of EU institutions. After the summit, Cameron is expected to continue bilateral meetings with fellow leaders to have a firm discussion on the future of the bloc at the December EU summit.
