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WORLD NEWS 9
Monday 1 February 2016

Cameron, Tusk fail to strike deal on British reform demands

JILL LAWLESS tinctively British dinner of Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron, right, meets with European Council president, Donald
Associated Press smoked salmon, fillet of Tusk, at his official London residence, 10 Downing Street, ahead of crunch talks to finalise an EU
LONDON (AP) — European beef and fruit crumble, Tusk reform package that could be backed by the rest of the 28-country bloc, Sunday Jan. 31, 2016.
Council President Donald tweeted that “intensive
Tusk and British Prime Min- work” over the next day Associated Press
ister David Cameron failed would be crucial.
Sunday to strike a deal Britain and the EU have flocked to the U.K. are tion and other countries’ day that the meeting with
aimed at keeping the U.K. been hoping to reach a straining schools, hospitals desire to maintain the prin- Tusk had made progress on
in the EU — but agreed to final pact at a Feb. 18-19 and social services. ciple of free movement. that key issue, but “there
extend talks between the summit — an increasingly On Friday, top EU officials Cameron said the proposal is still more hard work re-
two sides for another day. unlikely prospect unless offered Britain a mecha- was positive, but didn’t go quired.”
Both sides had hoped the there is quick progress. nism known as an “emer- far enough.
dinner meeting would Welfare benefits have be- gency brake” that would Britain wants the “emer- Britain also wants more
close the gap over Britain’s come the key issue, and let the U.K. temporarily limit gency brake” to take ef- power ceded from Brussels
demand for more control main sticking point, in Brit- tax credits — given to work- fect immediately after a to national parliaments,
over immigration. But Tusk ain’s negotiations with the ers in low-paid jobs — and British vote to stay in the exemption from the EU’s
emerged from 10 Downing rest of the EU before a U.K. housing benefit to immi- EU, and last for as long as commitment to “ever-clos-
St. and told reporters there referendum on whether to grants if the country’s wel- it takes to reduce the level er union,” a reduction in
was “no deal.” remain in the bloc. fare system comes under of migration. Cameron’s EU red tape and protec-
Cameron tweeted that it The referendum must be pressure. initial proposal was for a tion for the nine EU coun-
had been a “good meet- held by next year and The proposal could satisfy four-year halt on benefits tries, including Britain, that
ing” and said late Sunday could come as early as Britain’s goal of regaining to new EU immigrants. do not use the euro single
the two men had agreed June. some control over immigra- Cameron’s office said Sun- currency.q
on “another 24 hours of Cameron wants to limit Brit-
talks” before proposals ish welfare benefits to mi-
were published. grants from other EU coun-
Before the meeting, Tusk tries — but other EU lead-
had said that if the two men ers say that undermines
reached an agreement, he the right of EU citizens to
would present a draft text work and live freely among
to the 27 other EU member member nations.
states on Monday. Britain’s Conservative gov-
After the two politicians ernment says hundreds of
failed to resolve their dis- thousands of people from
agreements over a dis- Eastern Europe who have