Negotiations over a ‘two-speed’ Europe
In the run up to the EU referendum, two senior European politicians have been sketching the outline of a possible pre-referendum deal with David Cameron which would allow Britain to become a ‘low-definition’ member of the European Union.
The concept would involve a formalised ‘two-speed’ Europe, whereby Britain and certain other EU countries are exempt from the EU’s objective of an ‘ever-closer union’.
Although negotiations over a ‘two-speed’ Europe are at an early stage, comments suggest that important political figures in the two most influential countries in Europe, France and Germany, are very much open to a deal which would formalise Britain’s status as a semi-detached member of the EU.
The President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, urged members to accept Cameron’s demand for Britain to be exempted from the EU’s objective of an ‘ever-closer union’, claiming that ‘they would only be recognising what has been the case for London for some time now’.
The freedom which would come along with a ‘low-definition’ EU membership would, however, be limited.
The UK would still be subject to European law such as the right to free movement within the EU for European nationals, something which Cameron is determined to change. Negotiations with Cameron are to take place at a summit to be held in Brussels later this month.
