A draft EU reform package to help keep Britain in the European Union could be circulated on Monday following meetings between Prime Minister David Cameron and top EU officials.
The following are key points of could be the proposal European Council President Donald Tusk will send to EU governments--
The form
Negotiators worked through the weekend to craft a single document laying out legislative and other measures responding to Cameron’s November demands for reforms so he campaigns to keep Britain in the EU in a referendum by the end of next year. The document set out in more or less detail a classic EU negotiating text, including blank spaces and alternative wordings in brackets, to be haggled over up to and during a summit chaired by Tusk in Brussels on February 18-19. A deal, needing all 28 national leaders’ assent, could pave the way for a referendum as early as June. The EU sees its proposals as legally watertight, safe from challenges in court and not requiring amendments to treaties now- something hard to pull off quickly across all 28 EU states. On some issues, it will offer binding guarantees that treaties will be amended later if that is required to enact proposals.
Migration
Cameron wants to discourage other Europeans coming to Britain by excluding them from the tax credits, child allowances and other non-contributory social benefits attached to low paid British jobs for at least four years. Without changing EU treaties guaranteeing free movement of labour and barring national discrimination, EU lawyers propose an “emergency brake”, limiting those fundamental rights where vital national interests or economic stability are at risk. Legislation would give any state to curb in-work benefits for up to four years - if agreed to the European Council of fellow governments. Allowances for children could also be reduced long term. EU negotiators speak of “indexing” so that workers whose children live in cheaper states than the parent would receive less.
Euro zone
Cameron wants more legal safeguards for Britain’s sterling-based economy and big financial industry from a risk of the euro zone countries writing EU rules to suit them. The EU proposes another “emergency brake” where Britain could object in the Council of all EU ministers. London and euro zone leaders all say Britain should not have a blanket veto.
National sovereignty
Cameron wants assurances Britain need not hand more power to Brussels and to enhance the say of nations in the EU. The EU will be proposing a “red card”, letting national parliaments acting in concert block EU legislation. Britain wants it made clear that an EU treaty phrase calling for “ever closer union” among peoples does not mean more political integration. The EU will offer a binding decision by the European Council, echoing a reassurance it gave in 2014.
Competitiveness
The least contentious area of Cameron’s four reform “baskets”, calling for less red tape and more economic dynamism has broad backing so a set of declarations will echo EU policy, but with elements to show Britain Brussels is listening.
