European Council, Brussels 18-19 February 2016 – A new settlement for the United Kingdom in the EU

Following intense negotiations which lasted until late on the 19 February 2016, EU leaders achieved a deal which strengthened the United Kingdom's special status in the EU. It would be a legally binding and irreversible decision by all 28 leaders. The settlement addressed all of UK Prime Minister David Cameron's concerns without compromising EU fundamental values.

At the December 2015 European Council, the European Council agreed to find mutually satisfactory solutions in four areas of concern at its February 2016 meeting:

+ competitiveness
+ economic governance
+ sovereignty
+ social benefits and free movement

On 2 February 2016, President Donald Tusk put forward a proposal for a new settlement which addressed all these concerns. The proposal served as the basis for negotiations during the meeting.

Donald Tusk, President of the European Council said 'I deeply believe that the UK needs Europe, and Europe needs the UK. To break the link now would be totally against our mutual interests. We have done all we could not to let that happen'.

The UK Prime Minister made a statement following the meeting of the European Council where he negotiated the deal to give the UK special status in the EU. He said that 'I will be campaigning with all my heart and soul to persuade the British people to remain in the reformed European Union that we have secured today'.

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

EUObserver, 19.02.16: EU-UK deal reached in marathon talks https://euobserver.com/political/132367

ESO: Background information: Letter by President Donald Tusk to the Members of the European Council on his proposal for a new settlement for the United Kingdom within the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-letter-by-president-donald-tusk-to-the-members-of-the-european-council-on-his-proposal-for-a-new-settlement-for-the-united-kingdom-within-the-european-union/

Politico, 19.02.16: UK heads for referendum after Cameron wins EU deal http://www.politico.eu/article/drama-over-as-eus-brexit-summit-nears-deal/

BBC News, 19.02.16: EU deal gives UK special status, says PM http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-35616768

ESO: Background information: Prime Minister’s speech with Chancellor Merkel in Hamburg: 12 February 2016 / PM meeting with President Hollande in Paris: 15 February 2016 / PM meetings with MEPs in Brussels: 16 February 2016 http://www.europeansources.info/record/speech-prime-ministers-speech-with-chancellor-merkel-in-hamburg-12-february-2016-pm-meeting-with-president-hollande-in-paris-15-february-2016-pm-meetings-with-meps-in-brussels-16-febr/

The Guardian, 19.02.16: David Cameron seals deal with EU leaders, paving way for June referendum http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/feb/19/david-cameron-deal-european-leaders-paves-way-june-referendum

ESO: Background information: European Council, Brussels 18-19 February 2016 http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-council-brussels-18-19-february-2016/

GOV.UK: Prime Minister's Office: Speech: PM's statement following European Council meeting: 19 February 2016 https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pms-statement-following-european-council-meeting-19-february-2016

EurActiv, 20.02.16: Cameron clinches reform deal after benefits compromise http://www.euractiv.com/section/uk-europe/news/cameron-clinches-reform-deal-after-benefits-compromise/

Deutsche Welle, 20.02.16: Britain's euroskeptics slam Cameron's deal, vow to press on with Brexit campaign http://dw.com/p/1Hywp

Blog: Open Europe, 19.02.16: Open Europe responds to UK-EU agreement http://openeurope.org.uk/today/blog/open-europe-responds-to-uk-eu-agreement/

The Guardian, 20.02.16: Cameron’s EU deal: the reaction at home and abroad http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/feb/20/cameron-eu-deal-reaction-politicians-journalists

Blog: Open Europe, 20.02.16: Contrasting British and European press reactions to UK-EU deal highlights Cameron’s challenge http://openeurope.org.uk/today/blog/the-brits-have-freed-the-eu-from-the-yoke-of-political-union-foreign-press-reactions-to-uk-eu-deal/

Deutsche Welle, 20.02.16: [Opinion]: EU offers Cameron sweet deal to avoid Brexit http://dw.com/p/1Hz5u

France24, 20.02.16: Cameron says EU deal will give Britain special status in Europe http://www.france24.com/en/20160219-cameron-says-eu-deal-will-give-britain-special-status-europe

The Conversation, 20.02.16: The UK deal with the EU explained: what it says and what it means https://theconversation.com/the-uk-deal-with-the-eu-explained-what-it-says-and-what-it-means-55052

Politico, 21.02.16: Cameron ♥ Europe (sort of) http://www.politico.eu/article/cameron-%E2%99%A5-europe-sort-of/

Euro|Topics: Debates, February 2016: Can Cameron keep Britain in the EU? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/154282/can-cameron-keep-britain-in-the-eu

VoxEurop, 23.02.16: It is the Cameron-Show that everybody was expecting http://www.voxeurop.eu/en/content/press-review/5054103-it-cameron-show-everybody-was-expecting

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