Page 8 - Aruba Today
P. 8
A8
WORLD NEWSFriday 19 February 2016
Cameron faces off with 27 EU leaders in ‘battle for Britain’
JILL LAWLESS pean cooperation. much resonance as its rela- had narrowed,” the official competitiveness and giv-
RAF CASERT “It’s the EU in question, not tionship with the EU. said, speaking on condition ing national parliaments
Associated Press just one country in the EU,” “The question of Britain’s of anonymity to discuss the more power.
BRUSSELS (AP) — Prime Min- Hollande said as he ar- place in Europe has been closed-door talks. But differences remain on
ister David Cameron faced rived. “I want Britain to stay allowed to fester for too “There’s a lot of hard work key details, including Brit-
to do overnight.” ain’s wish to be exempted
British Prime Minister David Cameron, centre, speaks with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, right, Talks among diplomats and from the EU’s longstanding
and European Council President Donald Tusk during a round table meeting at an EU summit in lawyers to nail down the aim of “ever closer union.”
Brussels on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016. European Union leaders are holding a summit in Brussels on final details of a U.K. deal One European official said
Thursday and Friday to hammer out a deal designed to keep Britain in the 28-nation bloc. were expected to go into a main source of tension
the early hours Friday be- was the length of time Brit-
(AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert) fore a hoped-for agree- ain’s limit on welfare ben-
ment. efits would last, with the
off Thursday against the 27 in the EU. But I hope most long,” Cameron said, argu- Britain, which has one of Czech Republic oppos-
other European Union lead- of all that Europe can ad- ing that this was a chance the strongest economies ing the U.K.’s aim of seven
ers, telling them to grant vance, can be stronger.” to settle the issue for a gen- in Europe, has been a years. The official spoke on
his country a new deal to Cameron is seeking chang- eration. magnet for hundreds of condition of anonymity,
settle the festering issue of es to the U.K.-EU relation- But Britain also warned it thousands of workers from since the discussions were
their relationship or face a ship that will let him urge would walk away if the deal eastern EU nations who not public.
possible divorce as soon as Britons to vote “yes” to con- was not good enough. are seeking higher-paying The lingering disputes be-
this summer. tinued membership in a ref- “If we can get a good jobs. Britain has no power lie the fact that the other
Cameron said he was “bat- erendum that could come deal, I will take that deal. to stop immigration from member states cherish Brit-
tling for Britain” at a Brussels as early as June. But I will not take a deal other EU nations, ain as an economic and
summit — and for a less in- He told his fellow leaders that doesn’t meet what we leading some in Britain to diplomatic giant in a strug-
trusive EU that would ben- that he needed a substan- need,” Cameron said. say that immigrants are gling EU.
efit other countries, too. But tial deal that would be A British official said the 28 taking their jobs. TheEU im- “I’m going into this debate
French President Francois “credible for the British peo- leaders’ first discussion ses- migrants can also claim with the position that we
Hollande struck a caution- ple.” The British referendum sion Thursday ended with- unemployment, child care would like to do everything
ary note, warning that no on EU membership is bound out a breakthrough. and other benefits in Brit- to create the conditions so
individual leader should be to be hard-fought, since “I don’t think there was any ain, which Cameron’s gov- that Great Britain can re-
allowed to stop closer Euro- few issues in Britain have as sense that gaps in key issues ernment says is straining the main part of the European
country’s social services Union,” German Chancel-
budget. lor Angela Merkel said.
Since none of the 27 other But continuing differences
leaders wants to see Britain remain. Cameron argues
leave, there is broad con- for a “live and let live”
sensus, if not agreement, union in which some coun-
on a deal which Cameron tries move ever closer to-
says he needs to win the gether while others remain
referendum. semi-detached. T
It would give Britain more hat grates against the wish-
powers to limit benefit pay- es of France, Germany and
ments to workers from oth- others who believe strongly
er EU countries for several in an “ever closer union”
years — something Britain among as many members
says will slow the pace of as possible.
immigration. The draft deal Britain has long been a
also offers guarantees to half-hearted member of
countries, including Britain, the EU, staying out of both
that do not use the shared the euro currency and the
euro currency, and makes passport-free Schengen
tweaks aimed at boosting travel zone.q
EU warns Austria that asylum seeker caps are unlawful
LORNE COOK sioner Dimitris Avramopou- controls or putting up fenc- The letter to Austrian Inte- Sweden, has been the pre-
Associated Press los took center stage. es without warning their rior Minister Johanna Mikl- ferred destination for most
BRUSSELS (AP) — The Euro- “Legal opinions will be an- neighbors. Leitner, seen by The Asso- migrants.
pean Union’s top migration swered by lawyers. Politi- In the latest in a series of ciated Press, said a ceiling But Avramopoulos also
official told Austria Tuesday cally I say: we’ll stick to it,” uncoordinated and unilat- on asylum-seekers “would warned that Austria should
that its plan to cap the Faymann said as he arrived eral measures by nations, be plainly incompatible not be allowing people to
number of people who can at the summit in Brussels. Austria announced on with Austria’s obligations” travel through the country
apply for asylum is unlaw- More than 1 million people Wednesday that it would under EU and international if their aim is to apply for
ful, but Austrian Chancellor entered the EU in 2015 flee- allow no more than 80 peo- law. asylum elsewhere.
Werner Faymann refused ing conflict or poverty, and ple a day to apply for asy- Mikl-Leitner has said that European Parliament Presi-
to back down. some 84,000 have entered lum at its southern border a maximum 3,200 people dent Martin Schulz told the
As EU leaders sought to so far this year. points, as of Friday. a day would be allowed leaders that “the problem is
end their fragmented re- Overwhelmed by the num- But Avramopoulos said in to enter Austria “who are that everyone sees the situ-
sponse to Europe’s biggest bers and frustrated by their a letter Thursday that “Aus- seeking international pro- ation from their individual
refugee emergency since inability to agree on an ef- tria has a legal obligation tection in a neighboring standpoint and waits for
World War II at a summit fective European response, to accept any asylum ap- country. the other to move first in
meeting, the legal fight some EU countries have plication that is made on its ” That is an allusion to Ger- implementing those neces-
with EU Migration Commis- begun tightening border territory or at its border.” many which, along with sary solutions,” q
