Spotlight: EU summit gains "significant progress" on British reform demands

Britain is demanding fundamental reforms on the European Union (EU), challenging the bloc's core principles. After the EU leaders' first discussion on the demands in details at a summit, London triumphed that "significant progress" has been made and "a pathway to an agreement" emerged.

"SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS" WAS MADE

The EU leaders softened their tones on British Prime Minister David Cameron's demands after Thursday's dinner during which leaders at the first time held "frank" talks on the details of British requests.

Cameron in November set out four-area demands of reforms on Brussels, among which to some member states, three were "supportable" but one was heavily criticized as "unacceptable" that London sought four-year benefit curbs of European immigrants in Britain, making it a sticking point of the summit.

Following their "substantive and constructive" debate, "significant progress" has been made, European Council President Donald Tusk told a press conference Thursday night, adding that he was "much more optimistic" after the dinner.

"We had an open discussion yesterday, especially on the U.K.'s request to limit access to benefits to people who've worked for four years," said Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel Friday morning on his arrival for the second day of the summit.

He said Cameron told counterparts that London was willing to look for compromise.

The EU leaders have decided to hammer out "mutually satisfactory solutions in all the four areas" at next summit scheduled for Feb. 18 to 19.

PATHWAY TO AGREEMENT

Cameron presented his demands to European counterparts and spoke for some 45 minutes at the dinner Thursday night, which was claimed by the U.K. officials as unprecedented and suggesting the significance.

Tusk said Cameron set out in detail his position, in particular regarding benefits and free movement. "He explained his request for a model based on four years and reiterated the openness to alternative solutions only if they could achieve the same objective."

Other European countries earlier have expressed concerns on Cameron's benefit-curb demand, claiming it violating the bloc's fundamental principles on the freedom of movement and non-discrimination policy.

Leaders voiced their concerns, but also demonstrated willingness to look for compromises, Tusk said.

"Building on this positive debate, we agreed to work together to find solutions in all four baskets raised by PM Cameron," said Tusk.

"The good news is that there is a pathway to an agreement," Cameron hailed at a press conference early in the morning. He insisted that his demand to cut EU migrants of in-work benefits for four years was still "on the table."

EU NOT TO GIVE IN ON "RED LINES"

The EU leaders also warned Cameron that they will not give in on the "red lines," which refers to the core principles of the bloc including the freedom of movement and non-discrimination.

"We have to be tough when it comes to red lines and fundamental values. We will not give up," said Tusk.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said "On our side we would like to keep Britain as a member of the EU, but at the same time we do not want to limit the basic freedoms, non-discrimination, the fundamental principles of the EU."

"We made it clear that we are ready to compromise, but always on the basis that we safeguard the core European principles ... especially regarding the fourth pillar (on welfare benefits) it won't be easy but I still think that with good will we can find good solutions," she said.

Cameron also noted the next two months will bring "very hard work not just on welfare but on all the issues we put forward."

Britain will hold a referendum on EU membership be the end of 2017. Cameron in November set out the four areas where he is seeking reforms to address the concerns of the British people over UK membership of the EU.

The reform demands made up of four key objectives, including protecting the single market for Britain and others outside the eurozone; exempting Britain from "ever-closer union" and bolstering national parliaments; enhancing competitiveness in the EU and limiting EU migrants' benefits in Britain. Endit