This EU Council has long been marked in Downing Street’s diary as the moment when David Cameron would tell other EU leaders what his renegotiation demands are. But tonight Cameron’s remarks will be a relatively minor part of proceeding as Greece and the situation in the Mediterranean dominate discussion. I understand that the Council President Donald Tusk is not even expected to go round the table asking other EU leaders what they thought after Cameron’s contribution.
In some quarters, the fact that the British renegotiation is being treated as a third order issue at this summit is being seen as a snub to Cameron. But those involved in the renegotiation are actually quietly pleased that it won’t be the centre of attention at this summit. In their view, this makes it far less likely that other countries will make objections at this point in the process and will mean that phase two of the renegotiation, the technical work, can start straight away.
But Cameron should actually want to slow the pace of this renegotiation down.
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