European leaders have finally agreed a deal over British Prime Minister David Cameron's demands for EU reforms.
The agreement comes ahead of a UK referendum, which will see voters decide whether the country stays in the EU. The deal followed two days and nights of intense negotiations in Brussels on four objectives proposed by Cameron. These include imposing temporary limits on welfare benefits for EU immigrants in the UK. Cameron will hold an emergency cabinet meeting today, as he embarks on the difficult process of selling the deal at home ahead of the referendum, expected to take place on June the 23rd.
BRUSSELS, Feb. 19, 2016 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister David Cameron addresses a press conference at the end of an extraordinary two-day EU summit at the European Council in Brussels, Belgium, Feb.19, 2016. European leaders on Friday night reached a deal on British Prime Minister David Cameron's reforms after marathon talks, president of the European Council Donald Tusk tweeted. (Xinhua/Ye Pingfan)
This will be Britain's second referendum on European membership in just over 30 years. In June 1975, voters backed membership of the then European Economic community by just over 67 percent. However, heated debates continued after that vote.
"We have just achieved a deal which strengthens Britain's special status in the European Union. It is a legally binding and irreversible decision by all 28 leaders. The settlement addresses all of Prime Minister Cameron's concerns without compromising our fundamental values," said Donald Tusk, EU president.
"Tomorrow I will present this agreement to cabinet and on Monday I will make a statement to parliament and commence the process set out under our EU referendum act to hold a referendum on Britain's membership to the European Union. The British people must now decide whether to stay within this reformed European Union or to leave. This will be a once in a generation moment to shape the destiny of our country," said David Cameron, British PM.
"Those countries who want to integrate their economies further will be able to do so. Nobody can block them. Today's deal does not raise any doubt on the fact that the euro is the currency of our Union and that a deepening of our economic and monetary union will continue," said Jean-Claude Juncker, EU Commission president.
