December deal for EU reform difficult says Commission’s Brexit boss Faull

Jonathan Faull, appointed by the European Commission to head the task group dealing with the reforms demanded by the United Kingdom ahead of its referendum on EU membership, stated on 25 November 2015 it was going to be difficult but not impossible for officials involved in the negotiations to have a framework ready for substantial discussion at the European Council summit taking place on 17-18 December 2015.

European Council President Donald Tusk said on the 3 December 2015 that a discussion at the European Council in December and further negotiations 'should pave the way for a deal in February' (2016). UK Prime Minister David Cameron also confirmed that no agreement would be made at the December 2015 European Council.

ESO: Background information: Speech: Prime Minister's speech on Europe http://www.europeansources.info/record/speech-prime-ministers-speech-on-europe/

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

Politico, 26.11.15: British EU reform deal unlikely to meet December deadline http://www.politico.eu/article/british-eu-reform-deal-unlikely-to-meet-december-deadline/

Politico, 25.11.15: Germany wants to be a Brexit broker http://www.politico.eu/article/germany-merkel-wants-to-be-a-brexit-cameron-broker/

EUObserver, 25.11.15: [Interview] Any post-Brexit deal would be tough on the UK https://euobserver.com/political/131255

ECFR: Commentary, 26.11.15: Dear Donald http://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_dear_donald5032

Politico, 29.11.15: Deal with UK to avoid Brexit not likely this year http://www.politico.eu/article/deal-with-uk-avoid-brexit-not-likely-this-year-eu/

UK: GOV.UK: Prime Minister's Office: News, 29.11.15: PM meeting with President of the European Council, Donald Tusk: 29 November 2015 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-meeting-with-the-president-of-the-european-council-donald-tusk-29-november-2015

EurActiv, 04.12.15: EU-UK deal to prevent Brexit expected in February http://www.euractiv.com/sections/uk-europe/eu-uk-deal-prevent-brexit-expected-ferbuary-320122

Politico, 03.12.15: Cameron: No EU reform deal before new year http://www.politico.eu/article/cameron-no-eu-reform-deal-before-new-year/

EUObserver, 04.12.15: EU aims for UK deal in February https://euobserver.com/political/131388

UK: GOV.UK: Prime Minister's Office: News, 03.12.15: PM call with Angela Merkel: 3 December 2015 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-call-with-angela-merkel-3-december-2015

Blog: Open Europe, 04.12.15: Conclusion of UK-EU negotiations likely in February as expected http://openeurope.org.uk/blog/conclusion-of-uk-eu-negotiations-likely-in-february-as-expected/

Social Europe Journal, 09.12.15: The Battle For Britain http://www.socialeurope.eu/2015/12/the-battle-for-britain/

UK: GOV.UK: Prime Minister's Office: News, 08.12.15: PM holds talks with Guy Verhofstadt: 8 December 2015 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-holds-talks-with-guy-verhofstadt

---