Britain’s Cameron in Germany to pursue quest for EU changes

In an article for Bild magazine, he insisted the two countries were “key allies” and had to cooperate to make the union “safer and more prosperous”.

At a joint press conference in Hungary yesterday, prime minister Viktor Orban expressed anger that his citizens were being presented as “parasites” on the British taxpayer. “I am sure we are going to be able to find a solution that is going to be suitable for the Hungarian employees”.

On some of these he even supported demanding further reform and said he was “grateful that David is raising the issues”.

The steady stream of low-skilled workers from new eastern European member states such as Poland have fuelled concerns public services will be overrun and “British jobs” will be put at risk, and have given rise to the anti-immigration UK Independence Party, which won 12.6 per cent of the vote in 2015’s general election by campaigning nearly exclusively on the shortcomings of Brussels.

“But these changes will benefit the European Union too, and Germany can help deliver them”.

He added: “We do not want to be parasites, we want to work there”.

None of the EU’s other 27 members wants to see the exit of Britain – a linchpin member since joining in 1973, though not a member of either the euro zone or the borderless Schengen Area.

Critics have accused Cameron of watering down the UK’s demands, saying that regardless of what deal is eventually agreed up, it will not be enough to justify remaining in the EU. “But I’m not, at the moment, hopeful that we’ll get a sufficient renegotiation that will satisfy my expectations”.

“Britain supports the concept of free movement”.

The Prime Minister is trying to secure a four-year ban on migrants claiming in-work benefits as part of a larger renegotiation of European treaties.

He went on: “Britain and Germany are key allies in creating a prosperous and secure EU”.

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. “And they will make the European Union safer and more prosperous for generations to come”. “As I indicated before Christmas, there will be a clear government position, but it will be open to individual ministers to take a different personal position while remaining part of the government”.

Around a third of Cameron’s lawmakers may be at least toying with the idea of a British exit while up to a third of the cabinet – including Home Secretary Theresa May, Business Secretary Sajid Javid and Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith – have expressed Eurosceptic sentiments.

But Mr Osborne told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “He hasn’t changed his mind…”

“And if and when we do so, as I said 3 years ago, I will campaign to keep Britain inside a reformed European Union”.

Speaking through an interpreter, Mr Orban avoided addressing the specific proposal and said he would not accept any “discriminatory” measures.