MEPs quiz Commission's chief negotiator on progress ahead of UK referendum

14 January 2016

Questions such as the need for treaty changes to meet UK demands or the safeguards of the four freedoms were put by members of EP's constitutional affairs committee to Jonathan Faull, head of the Commission's task force related to the UK referendum.

Other issues brought up by MEPs included involvement by national parliaments in EU decision-making, ways to avoid abuse of welfare systems and how a possible deal would affect the work of the European Parliament.

Mr Faull described the ongoing negotiations as very difficult but marked by a strong desire to reach an agreement that would be good for all parties. The kind of reforms needed at EU level would depend on how EU heads of state or government agreed to respond to Cameron's demands, he added.

EU leaders plan to agree on a deal in response to prime minister Cameron's requests for reforms at the next meeting of the European Council (on 18 and 19 February).

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