EU Council President: 'No guarantee' of deal with UK

(Baonghean.vn) - European Council President Donald Tusk has expressed skepticism about the possibility of renegotiating Britain's role in the bloc at this week's EU summit, which opens on February 18. There are still major disagreements about Britain's reform demands.

The President of the EU Council expressed skepticism about the possibility of reaching an EU-UK agreement at the summit opening on February 18. Photo: Reuters.

Mr. Donald Tusk said on the night of February 17 that there could be “no guarantee” of reaching an agreement to keep Britain in the European Union at the two-day summit in Brussels.

Mr Tusk struck a cautious note after private talks with British Prime Minister David Cameron, which will continue today (February 18).

Just hours before the start of the Brussels summit, Mr Tusk said: “After many consultations over the last few hours, I have to be honest – there is still no guarantee that we will reach an agreement.”

“We disagree on several political issues and I am fully aware that it will be difficult to overcome them. I therefore urge all parties to remain constructive,” he wrote in a formal invitation to the 28 EU leaders.

The British leader's statement was more optimistic, saying that "they agreed that good progress had been made on all four aspects of the renegotiation, and that the draft texts provided the basis for reaching agreement at the European Council meeting, subject to satisfactory solutions to each individual issue".

Mr Cameron is seeking to reshape Britain's position in the EU ahead of a "remain or leave" referendum due to take place late next year.

His four main demands include restrictions on welfare, safeguards allowing Britain to maintain its own currency, the right to choose ahead of time plans for deeper integration within the bloc in the future, and increased competition between economies.

Talks between Mr Tusk and Mr Cameron will continue from today. Photo: Getty Images.

Support from Mrs. Merkel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed implicit support for Mr Cameron ahead of the summit: “Like Mr Cameron, I believe that the EU needs to improve competitiveness, transparency and reduce bureaucracy. Germany has shared these concerns for many years.”

In the unlikely event of a deal at the summit, Mr Cameron still faces an uphill battle at home, convincing sceptics that remaining in the EU is good for Britain amid growing concerns about immigration and the influx of people from other countries in the bloc into the British workforce.

Thu Giang

(According to AFP, AP)