Cardwell, Paul James

Prime Minister David Cameron faces a number of challenges in order to achieve a successful EU renegotiation, writes Paul James Cardwell. He suggests that reaching agreement on an exemption to ever closer union and changes to free movement for workers could be particularly problematic, as they concern fundamental EU principles

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     Edinburgh Research Explorer                                      David Cameron has Begun a ‘Battle for Britain’ in the EU – ButHow Can He Possibly Win?Citation for published version:Cardwell, PJ, David Cameron has Begun a ‘Battle for Britain’ in the EU – But How Can He Possibly Win?,2016, Web publication/site, European Futures, Edinburgh.Link:Link to publication record in Edinburgh Research ExplorerDocument Version:Publisher's PDF, also known as Version of recordPublisher Rights Statement:© 2016 Paul James Cardwell. Published under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International) LicenseGeneral rightsCopyright for the publications made accessible via the Edinburgh Research Explorer is retained by the author(s)and / or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing these publications that users recognise andabide by the legal requirements associated with these rights.Take down policyThe University of Edinburgh has made every reasonable effort to ensure that Edinburgh Research Explorercontent complies with UK legislation. If you believe that the public display of this file breaches copyright pleasecontact openaccess@ed.ac.uk providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately andinvestigate your claim.Download date: 05. Apr. 2019  European Futures | Article No 67                                                                          Page 1 of 3 Article No 67    David Cameron has Begun a ‘Battle for Britain’ in the EU – But How Can He Possibly Win?  Author(s): Paul James Cardwell  Permalink: http://www.europeanfutures.ed.ac.uk/article-2554  Publication: 4 January 2016  Article text:  Prime Minister David Cameron faces a number of challenges in order to achieve a successful EU renegotiation, writes Paul James Cardwell. He suggests that reaching agreement on an exemption to ever closer union and changes to free movement for workers could be particularly problematic, as they concern fundamental EU principles.  David Cameron has called his four key demands for reforming the UK’s relationship with the EU a ‘battle for Britain’. At last he has been able to fight it in person – albeit over a dinner of chicken terrine and venison – where EU Member State leaders had their first collective chance to discuss the UK’s demands.  The agenda of the December European Council dinner in Brussels was to ‘discuss the state of play’ and to address political issues before a concrete proposal. None of the four issues Cameron is campaigning on are easy to tackle, politically or legally – they go to the heart of what makes the EU what it is, and even what it was before the UK joined in 1973.  While the dinner seems to have gone amicably enough, the statements that came out after it were rather equivocal. Translated into official language, the conclusions refer to a ‘substantive and constructive debate’ on finding ‘mutually satisfactory solutions’ to the UK’s demands.  Cameron’s tone at the late-night post-dinner press conference backed away from wartime analogies and moved towards the language of compromise used by other leaders. ‘Good progress’, he said, had been made towards agreement.  The British government has a lot of work to do and not very much time to do it. In constitutional terms, seeking an exemption from the commitment to ‘ever closer union’ is particularly problematic. This is contained in Article 1 of the Treaty on European Union and provides the whole rationale for the European project.  If Cameron were granted his wish that this should not apply to Britain in a ‘formal, legally binding’ way, that could deal a major blow to the fundamental premise of the EU itself. His letter actually calls for more integration in some areas of the single market to boost competitiveness. However, an ‘opt-out’ from ever closer union is fundamentally different from not participating in the euro, external migration policy or the Schengen area.  Article No 67    European Futures | Article No 67                                                                          Page 2 of 3 Article No 67   The main sticking point is the question of rights for EU citizens working in the UK, in particular in-work benefits and equal treatment. Cameron is demanding that the UK be allowed to treat EU citizens differently by imposing a four-year ban on their eligibility for these benefits.  Since such discrimination is prohibited under EU law, this is deeply problematic in both theory and in practice. It strikes at the heart of the principle of free movement as a pillar of the single market – the same market that Cameron is arguing should be strengthened in other areas to boost competitiveness.  Unsurprisingly, various EU institutions and Member States have resisted the UK’s insistence on being treated (yet again) as a special exception. The fundamental principle of non-discrimination underpins large parts of EU law. There is undoubtedly a will to accommodate and compromise, but not at any cost.  The Polish government – the British Conservative party’s main ally in their European Parliament group – is understandably resistant to changes which imply that the hundreds of thousands of Polish citizens working in the UK are somehow second-class.  Tampering with the rights to free movement within the treaty is a Pandora’s box that no Member State would seriously wish to open. There is no legal quick fix. To many of the other states, a ‘battle for Britain’ could just be an unwelcome distraction from other pressing matters, especially the refugee crisis.  Even if there is agreement on the substance of any changes, experience tells us that the process is as vital to success as the substance itself. As Angela Merkel said at her post-summit press conference, the only way forward might be to agree on a future treaty change tailor-made to accommodate any political agreement struck by the February deadline.  With the most recent opinion polls showing that the British electorate is split down the middle on remaining in or leaving the EU, Cameron must demonstrate that he can first win concessions and then successfully sell them to the British people as significant. Assuming that he wants the UK to remain in the EU, his gamble relies on simply having a political agreement of some sort by February to hold up as a victory in his battle, no matter what the content.  So Cameron certainly has his work cut out. He will need to be creative in proposing legally and politically acceptable solutions. He must convince 27 governments to devote time and energy to discussing the UK alongside the refugee crisis, combating terrorism and sanctions on Russia. He must then convince others to agree. Most onerously of all, he must sell whatever results he gets to his voters at home.  In isolation, any one of these steps would be difficult. Together, they look almost insurmountable to achieve by February.  This article was originally published on The Conversation.    European Futures | Article No 67                                                                          Page 3 of 3 Article No 67  Author information:  Paul James Cardwell The University of Sheffield  Dr Paul James Cardwell is Reader in EU External Relations Law at the University of Sheffield. His research interests include EU external relations, EU law and politics and UK constitutional law. He is Treasurer of the University Association for Contemporary European Studies (UACES) and Honorary Fellow of the Edinburgh Europa Institute.  Publication license: Creative Commons (Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International)  Additional information: Please note that this article represents the view of the author(s) alone and not European Futures, the Edinburgh Europa Institute nor the University of Edinburgh.  

David Cameron has Begun a ‘Battle for Britain’ in the EU – But How Can He Possibly Win?

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David Cameron has Begun a ‘Battle for Britain’ in the EU – But How Can He Possibly Win?

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