Our PM has had to admit that there will be no treaty change before any EU referendum. It’s yet another example of his rashness on the European stageIf you see your neighbour’s house on fire, it is probably not the best time to turn up asking to borrow a cup of sugar. This is the problem that David Cameron has at today’s European summit in Brussels. His fellow heads of government are not unreceptive to a renegotiation of UK membership. They are just a lot more concerned with the problem of Greek debt and the threat it poses to the integrity of the single currency. The flames are rising; the prime minister’s domestic political tea can go un-sugared for now.As a result, all Cameron can secure from the discussions is technical agreement on how his renegotiation will work – the institutional framework within which officials will later hammer out the details. Downing Street knew this in advance and tried to keep expectations low. It is the start of a process that will take “several months” and be conducted mostly behind closed doors. This is how European diplomacy happens. It is also how delicate negotiations must be conducted. Each side has an interest in keeping its demands discreet given the cost of being seen to climb down. Everyone has to be able to emerge, blinking into the daylight, declaring the deal mutually satisfactory. That is harder if leaks and advance briefings portray one party as the obvious loser. Continue reading...
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