EU leaders hold make-or-break Brexit talks

British PM David Cameron and European Council president Donald Tusk at the EU headquarters in Brussels on Thursday. (Photo: AFP)

Prime Minister David Cameron said on Thursday hard work and good will should help him clinch a deal at a European Union summit, described by leaders of the 28-nation bloc as the best chance of preventing Britain leaving.

Ahead of “now-or-never” talks, the latest draft agreement sent to EU leaders overnight and seen by Reuters offered several ways of overcoming differences on the most contentious areas of Mr Cameron’s renegotiation — migration curbs and financial safeguards — but much was still open for debate. Mr Cameron is keen to end the week in Brussels with a deal that he can call a victory so he can then start campaigning to keep Britain in the EU. “We’ve got some important work to do today and tomorrow, and it’s going to be hard. I’ll be battling for Britain. If we can get a good deal, I’ll take that deal, but I will not take a deal that doesn’t meet what we need,” Mr Cameron said.

“I think it’s much more important to get this right than to do anything in a rush, but with good will, with hard work, we can get a better deal for Britain,” he told reporters before talks with European Council President Donald Tusk. Other EU leaders also voiced optimism that a deal could be reached, with European Comm-ission president Jean-Claude Juncker describing himself as “quite confident”. “We have to sort out a certain number of questions ... and I’m convinced that Britain will be a constructive and active member of the European Union,” Mr Juncker said. Underlying the optimism was a widespread feeling that if leaders fail to agree terms this time, they will lose the opportunity to wind up the British renegotiation and turn to more pressing concerns, such as the refugee crisis. “The mood around town is that people think that if we don’t get it solved now, we’re never going to solve it,” said a senior EU diplomat.

EU president Donald Tusk warned Thursday that difficult negotiations were still needed to seal a deal to keep Britain in the bloc at what he called a “make-or break” summit in Brussels. “We are in the middle of still very difficult and sensitive negotiations on the UK question. One thing is clear to me though: this is a make or break summit,” Mr Tusk said.

Meanwhile, French Pres-ident Francois Hollande said it was necessary for an EU summit Thursday to reach an accord for Britain to remain in the European Union, but said no country should have a veto over increased integration of the 28-nation bloc. “An agreement is possible because it is necessary; Britain must remain in the European Union,” Mr Hollande said.