French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned on Friday (December 18) that the United Kingdom had to respect the European Union principles on freedom of movement.
EU heads of governments were meeting in Brussels on Thursday (December 17) evening over dinner to discuss British Prime Minister David Cameron’s four key demands on EU reforms.
Speaking after the meeting, Hollande said the two more sensitive issues were the access to social benefits for EU migrants bound to the freedom of movement principle, as well as the issue that countries outside the euro zone should not prevent further integration of the currency union.
“The two most difficult questions, as I already warned, are those regarding the euro zone and welfare benefits for European workers,” Hollande said.
Hollande said the British government’s demands had to remain in line with the principles of existing European treaties.
“There can be adjustments, there can be accommodation, but European principles, European rules and European agreements must be respected. And it’s based on these that we must pursue our discussion,” Hollande said.
Also speaking after the dinner, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that it would be difficult to meet British demands for changes to EU rules on benefits for migrants but that there was a will among all member states to get a deal.
“I stated very clearly that we are ready to compromise, but always on the basis that we safeguard the core European principles, which include non-discrimination and freedom of movement,” Merkel told reporters.
She added further discussions on Cameron’s demands would take place between now and an upcoming summit in February.
“Until February – and that’s something Mr. Tusk in his capacity of European Council President will coordinate – we will specifically and intensively discuss the issue of freedom of movement and social benefits, in order to reach an agreement by February, especially regarding the fourth pillar [on welfare benefits]. It won’t be easy but I still think that with good will we can find good solutions,” Merkel said.
During the meeting, Cameron urged European Union leaders to agree to ‘substantial reforms’ and demonstrate the kind of flexibility on migration that Britain needed for him to persuade voters to stay in the bloc.
In his longest address in more than five years attending European Councils, Cameron told the 27 other national leaders over dinner that if they wanted to keep Britain in the EU at a referendum he has promised to hold within two years, they must address British voters’ concerns about immigration. (Reuters)
