BY BEN KERRINGHAM
Britain is yet to reveal details about what it wants to achieve in a renegotiation with the EU. European leaders have expressed concern that David Cameron has not been clear on what reform he wants to see from the Union. The Prime Minister, who is known to be interested in renegotiating the UK’s relationship with the EU ahead of an in/out referendum on membership told reporters that ”discussions were going well”. Cameron is currently in Iceland for a meeting of northern European leaders. The debate about whether to stay in the EU has always been a contentious issue, with Cameron promising a referendum to the British public during last years general election. However, it is known that the Queen, who is meant to be a figure head unconnected to politics, wants Britain to stay in the EU and not lose its economic and political ties to many countries in Europe.
The issue now seems to be whether Cameron can successfully produce results on key issues, some of which relate to terrorism and the Human Rights Act that prevent Britain from deporting people deemed harmful to the country. Other issues will should be thrashed at the meeting, because it would look ridiculous if Cameron does not make himself absolutely clear on what he wants. Only a few days ago, the Prime Minister welcomed Luxembourg Prime Minister, Xavier Bettel to Downing Street where they largely discussed Cameron’s stance on Britain’s renegotiation of EU membership. Cameron is believed to be seeking a ”special associate” membership status for the UK under a new deal. Under this deal, Britain would have departed from the special union that underpins the EU treaty, and will be moving closer to the formulation of separate policies, without quitting completely. Ironically, this same idea was presented and rejected in June, but somehow is back on the table.
This rebranding has been knocked my sceptics as a ”cosmetic gimmick”,though is seen as probably the closest Britain can get to staying in the EU without feeling constrained by policies that are not conducive to its interests. Yet the whole point of policy is to establish a unified rule for all to abide by in order to maintain fairness and equitable treatment. Perhaps Cameron we want to shift the goal post, so he can eat his cake and have it. Cameron has rejected criticism that he is being ambiguous about what he wants, and has failed to put details on the changes he wants in the run up to the referendum in 2017. He has begun talks with his Scandinavian and Baltic counterparts that started at a summit yesterday.
