EU-UK relations

Cameron drops big 2016 hint for Brexit referendum date

David Cameron dropped his biggest hint yet today (18 December) that Britain will hold its in/out EU referendum next year.

UKIP must replace Farage with fresh face, says party’s only MP

Britain's anti-EU UK Independence Party needs a fresh face as leader after failing to make inroads in an election for a parliamentary seat earlier this month, its only lawmaker has told the BBC.

Brexit: Cameron and EU agree to disagree until February

David Cameron gave the 27 other EU leaders a 40-minute speech on the case for a UK’s renegotiation of its membership on Thursday night (17 December) – but walked away from the first night of the summit empty-handed.

EURACTIV’s live coverage of #EUCO

Difficult dinner ahead for lonely Cameron

David Cameron faces a lonely dinner with his fellow EU leaders tonight, after senior EU diplomats admitted there was no chance of “pulling a rabbit out of the hat” and making progress on the UK’s controversial Brexit demands.

Cameron ‘piggy-in-middle’ between UK Eurosceptics and EU leaders

David Cameron arrives in Brussels today (16 December) for a crunch EU ‘Brexit’ summit, caught between Eurosceptics at home who regard his renegotiations as “trivial”, and fellow European leaders, who see at least one of his conditions as currently insurmountable.

IMF warns of uncertainty around Brexit vote

A referendum on whether Britain should leave the European Union would create economic uncertainty, IMF chief Christine Lagarde said in a report Friday, adding she hoped the country would remain in the bloc. 

EU lawmakers back air passenger data deal

EU lawmakers on Thursday (10 December) backed plans to track airline passenger names as part of efforts to prevent a repeat of the Paris attacks, some of whose perpetrators travelled freely across Europe before the carnage.

Poland disagrees with UK on ‘Brexit’ welfare restrictions

Some of Britain's demands for EU reform are acceptable, Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo said on Thursday (10 December), but added there was no agreement on Prime Minister David Cameron's push to curb welfare payments to EU migrants.

Tusk: EU reform deal in sight for Britain, with two exceptions

The man running negotiations with Britain to keep it in the European Union said leaders could seal a deal in February but warned David Cameron that a central demand to restrict free movement and curb social benefits for EU migrants may be asking too much.

EU-UK deal to prevent Brexit expected in February

European Union leaders could clinch a deal with British Prime Minister David Cameron in February to prevent the bloc's second largest economy leaving, European Council President Donald Tusk said yesterday (3 December).

Barnier: The EU is at risk of disintegration

Michel Barnier, former Commissioner for Internal Market and Services, now Special Counsellor for Defence Policy to Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, said on Wednesday (1 December) that he saw a serious risk of the EU disintegrating.

Britain’s Labour party launches EU ‘in’ campaign

Britain’s opposition Labour Party today (1 December) launched its campaign for the UK to remain in the European Union, saying that the Paris terror attacks showed the need to "stand shoulder to shoulder" with its European partners.

UK to vote on air strikes against ISIS

Britain's Labour Party said yesterday (30 November) its lawmakers could vote according to their consciences on air strikes in Syria, a move which may hand Prime Minister David Cameron the majority he needs to strike Islamic State.

Poland ready to back Britain’s push for EU treaty change

Poland's new Eurosceptic government is ready to support many of Britain's demands for staying in the European Union, but will oppose any move to withhold benefits from the thousands of Poles living there, a senior Polish official said on Sunday (29 November).

December deal for EU reform difficult says Commission’s Brexit boss Faull

It will be difficult but not impossible for officials renegotiating Britain's EU membership to have a framework ready for substantial discussion at next month's European Union summit, the EU's chief negotiator said on Wednesday.

UK poll shows slight majority for Brexit

A small majority of Britons want to leave the European Union, according to a new opinion poll released on Tuesday (24 November).

Britain’s EU reform talks stumble on social benefits

Member states have firmly rejected British demands to limit EU citizens' rights to social benefits when working in the UK, saying this would be discriminatory.

Schulz on collision course with Cameron over national parliaments’ role

European Parliament President Martin Schulz has said he is in favour of giving a greater role to national parliaments in EU decision-making, one of the key demands of David Cameron seeking a renegotiation of the UK’s EU membership, but it has to be exercised towards national governments not EU institutions.

House of Lords backs lowering the EU referendum voting age to 16

The parliament's upper house backed on Wednesday (18 November) lowering the voting age to 16 in a planned referendum on Britain's continued membership of the European Union, a move that could delay the timing of the crucial vote.

US, Russia and EU should work together to combat ISIS, says Juncker

Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has team up with French President François Hollande in seeking a 'rapprochement' with Russia to fight Islamic State, described by both as the biggest threat to the EU.

Tusk calls Cameron’s demands ‘very, very tough’

European Council President Donald Tusk warned on Thursday (12 November) it would be "very, very tough" to reach a deal on reforms Prime Minister David Cameron has asked for to help keep Britain in the bloc.

Draghi: UK negotiations must preserve euro ‘achievements’

European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said on Thursday (12 November) that negotiations with Britain on changes to its relationship with the European Union must preserve the "extraordinary achievements" of the euro and the EU's single market.

Cameron sketches out EU reform demands, stays quiet on timing

British Prime Minister David Cameron said he hoped to make good progress with reforms of the European Union when leaders from the bloc meet next month, but he gave no fresh sign of when he plans to hold Britain's EU membership referendum.