Brexit Talks Drag On; Cameron Postpones Meeting; Merkel Eats Fries

Talks Drag On

Brexit talks unexpectedly dragged on today. France and Poland have dug in their heels on UK concessions. To top things off, Greece threatens an outright veto unless it gets its way on border issues.

UK prime minister had to postpone a meeting with his ministers set for today while chancellor Angela Merkel to a break to eat Belgian fries.

Digging In

The Financial Times reports Talks Drag on as France and Poland Dig In.

David Cameron’s summit battle for a “new settlement” for Britain in the EU is set to stretch into Friday night, forcing the prime minister to postpone an expected cabinet meeting to launch a June referendum.

With France and Poland still digging in over financial regulation and migrant benefit reforms, diplomats are bracing for a potentially long evening of tense negotiations to finalise the details of the package.
Mr Hollande said he was still not prepared to sign a deal that would give David Cameron his long-sought renegotiated relationship with the EU, saying leaders “still have work to do” despite all-night talks aimed at striking a compromise.

The French president said compromises aimed at resolving Paris’s concerns that the accord could still enable the City of London evade some EU financial rules.

Mr Cameron’s insistence that the “emergency brake” for controlling welfare payments should be applicable for a long period — the prime minister suggested a maximum of 13 years — remains a sticking point, as do planned curbs to the payment of child benefit to migrant workers whose children live in their home country.

Alexis Tsipras, the Greek prime minister, is threatening to veto a UK deal unless all EU leaders commit to keeping borders open until a March 6 emergency summit with Turkey.

Mr Cameron is resigned to losing one of his key allies, Michael Gove, to the Out camp, whatever the deal, while the chances of support from Boris Johnson, London mayor, are deemed to be no better than 50/50.