Cameron's EU Dilemma

Prime Minister David Cameron has followed up on his campaign promise and officially started to look into how he can change Britain’s role in the EU. Cameron spent the last few days flying around Europe, looking for allies to support his plans to renegotiate Britain’s European treaty.

Cameron visited Warsaw, Berlin, Paris and also met with the leaders of the European Commission.

While initially he faced severe criticism, so far it seems like his efforts have been successful. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that Germany is “willing to work with the UK” and that she “understand the concerns and problems that Britain faces”.

Having the Chancellor as a supporter is a huge win for Cameron. Germany is the biggest economy in the EU and has immense influence, as does the Chancellor who has just been named as the most powerful woman in the world for a fifth year in a row by Forbes Magazine.

It is important to mention that Cameron too sees the future of Britain as part of the EU, but he wants conditions to change. And as the Chancellor said “where there is a will, there is a way”. Merkel wants the UK to stay in the EU, but can’t force the British public, so she is willing to co-operate.

However, she has warned that it is going to be a lengthy process, because the Lisbon Treaty is complicated after all. As a first step, she believes that it is important to agree on the substance of reform before deciding on the mechanism for delivering the change.

The two leaders also set up time to discuss more at next week’s G7 meeting, and Cameron has invited Chancellor Merkel to London for a meeting later this year as well.

The success of the Berlin meeting is especially important, as Polish Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz had a very frosty encounter with Cameron. Millions of poles live and work in the UK, and Mrs. Kopacz does not like to hear about targeted attacks against her countrymen.

Meetings with the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and French President Francois Hollande were also not without conflict, but if Cameron can win over Merkel, it should all be well for him.

While Britain, and especially the Conservative Party has always been very Eurosceptic, especially since the glory days of Margaret Thatcher, it wasn’t until the rise of Nigel Farage and UKIP, that this issue was so important again.

During the campaign for the General Election, Cameron promised an all-out referendum on Britain’s possible exit from the European family. Some critics said that it was clearly a move to appeal to the UKIP voters, while others believed that it was a step to further consolidate himself with Thatcherites and the core of the party.

Nonetheless, they won the election, and must now campaign for the referendum. Few believe that Cameron actually wants to leave the EU, but get ready to hear just that from Labour and the SNP.

What Cameron actually wants is to get a better deal for the country, while still remaining in the Union. Cameron wants to decrease the monetary contributions and expanses and the amount of immigrants, both from within the EU, and the asylum seekers from elsewhere, who wants to enter the country.

It is going to be a long road for Cameron, Merkel and Britain, but they must achieve something in the near future as the referendum’s date is looming ahead.

Cameron will now likely look for more support within in Europe, as he is expected to make more travels around the continent.

Another possible ally to Cameron’s cause could be that of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Cameron and Orban have a positive history together, as they were the only two heads of state that opposed Juncker’s candidacy for European Presidency last year. Orban too wants no asylum seekers in Hungary and is determined to fight the European leadership.

Their partnership could be dangerous, but Cameron is more than willing to deliver on his promise.

First Appeared 31st May 2015, The Moderate (www.themodcon.com)