Hungarian PM to David Cameron over European Union reform: ‘We are not parasites’

‘Whether it is our shared belief in free trade and sound finances, our major contribution to the European Union budget, our our aid to reduce the suffering that drives refugees into Europe, or our military and intelligence services working together against terrorism, we do vital work together’.

“So I have every confidence that we will achieve an agreement that works for Britain and works for our European partners”, he said.

If that timetable slipped the referendum may be delayed from summer and could take place “later” than September, he indicated.

So Mr. Cameron, who wants to see Britain remain in a reformed European Union, spent his week flying from Berlin to Budapest, hoping to separately persuade German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban – one the continent’s most powerful politicians, the other its most unpredictable one – to make concessions that will help him convince British voters that the European Union is capable of change, and thus worth staying inside.

As Mr Cameron continued his European charm offensive, an opinion poll said a majority of Britons, who had made up their minds, would vote to leave the EU.

Earlier this week Mr Cameron confirmed that ministers will be permitted to campaign for “Brexit” even if he declares his renegotiation a success.

“The government is not going to be neutral on this issue, with people on one side or the other”.

This benefits fight is only useful to Cameron in that it gives the impression that he’s had to push hard for changes to Britain’s relationship – and that is only useful if he wins the fight. British officials say ideas for a possible compromise are not fixed.

BMW’s director for sales and marketing, Dr Ian Robertson, said the United Kingdom had the “most diverse vehicle industry in Europe” and was the company’s fourth largest market.

His successor will thus be able to lead a “Yes” campaign for Britain to remain in the European Union as just an “associate member”, and Mr Cameron will have got pretty well all he promised.

Mr Cameron said the “prize” of an improved membership package was closer.

If this deal between Cameron and the EU goes ahead, it would be a really clever way of getting around the biggest problem with Cameron’s attempt to renegotiation Britain’s membership of the EU, the core EU principle that EU countries should treat all EU citizens the same. Cameron has committed to holding a referendum on Britain’s membership in the 28-nation bloc by the end of 2017.

He added: “To me the substance matters much more than the timing so if I can’t get the right deal in February I will wait and keep going and keep plugging away because it is such an important issue for our country”.