David Cameron – and the travelling circus of officials and journalists around him – is in Brussels today for that long-awaited European Council summit at which the Prime Minister hopes he can get his EU deal. Bearing in mind that Cameron never really wanted a referendum, let alone to spend months banging on about Europe when he’s interested in so many other things, he must be rather relieved that the renegotiation may be drawing to a close. But these next few hours are, in the Prime Minister’s mind, a ‘very sensitive point’ in the negotiations. He is likely to encounter attempts from some quarters to water down what is already a rather weak-tasting deal. He is likely to have to deal with drama from others, including the French. And he still needs to deal with a series of outstanding issues.
These issues are treaty change for an exemption from ‘ever closer union’ and protections for the City of London, protections for non-eurozone countries, and the details of the emergency brake on migrant benefits.

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