Leaders pledge to accelerate refugee crisis plan — European Union summit

Leaders resumed their talks Friday with the focus on issues including Syria, fighting terrorism and energy.

“It is going to be tough and there is a lot of work to do but I believe 2016 will be the year we achieve something really vital”. His most contentious goal is to reduce immigration from other European Union nations by barring migrants from receiving some benefits until they have been in Britain for four years. “First of all, I very much welcome that we took a very rapid path on establishing the common European border and coast guard and, of course, we also had very good and thorough and very interesting discussions, on the topic of British referendum”, said Roivas.

The EU’s top officials, European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, have cast doubt on some of the proposed reforms.

But former prime minister Sir John Major gave a robust defence of his successor’s push for reforms and called on ministers to present a united front “for the sake of the country” which would be poorer and more unsafe outside the bloc.

Cameron’s critics at home were unimpressed. “How many times can his little plans be rejected? If you look at the national executive of UKIP, the MEP group of UKIP, I have got terrific support within the party”, he said.

When asked by a journalist about how Britain could manage a referendum in such a short time, Cameron said he have been mandating with British people since the election back in May. They include greater protection for the interest of EU members that, like Britain, do not use the euro currency, as well as a greater focus on economic competitiveness and an opt-out from “ever-closer union”.

While Cameron admitted that nothing was “certain”, he said there was clear “momentum” towards a deal, expressing confidence that it could be done by the next European Council summit in February. “The U.K. must understand that any concession given to it must also be given to all others”.

“It’s inevitable that some members of the cabinet would have to resign if they’re browbeaten into supporting a deal that is honestly this flimsy”, Baker told Sky television, urging Cameron to give them the freedom to campaign for an exit if they wished.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande both indicated that a compromise is possible but that European agreements must be respected.

He outlined his four demands to reform Britain’s relationship with the EU. “We could agree to make them later”, she told reporters after the meeting.

“I firmly believe… the best future for Britain is a reformed European Union”, he said.