Great Britain has received a 'better deal' from a top European official who offered a package of concessions last Tuesday. This was intended to persuade Britain to stay in the European Union (EU).
According to The Guardian, European Council President Donald Tusk wrote a document wherein it says it would allow Britain to request an 'emergency break' on in-work benefits for EU migrants, allowing the government in withholding the payment of welfare benefits to non-Bristish people from the EU.
New York Times also said that another one of the four areas that British Prime Minister David Cameron requested is the safeguards for Britains' financial industry. Others included calls for a commitment in simplifying red tape and reducing the burden on businesses. Further, Tusk wrote in the document about potentially allowing national parliaments in banding together to override EU legislation.
Tusk admitted that at the beginning of the process, the four areas that Cameron wanted to see significant change in were set out and delivered in his document. However, he stated that there is still detail that needed work as well as essential things to be secured and much work to be done, CNN reported.
As for Cameron, he has held urgent talks in the past days with the EU President to make plans in reforming the terms of Britain's EU membership. These reforms that Cameron seeks for Britain are in hopes of preventing a potential British exit or 'Brexit' from the EU consisting of 28 members. Furthermore, in two years, a British referendum might happen that will decide whether to leave the EU or not.
For his part, Tusk believes his proposal goes very far in addressing all the concerns that the Bristish Prime Minister has raised. But if there is a line he did not cross, it is the principles that the European project has been founded on. The proposal is said to be 'a good basis for a compromise.'
So far, both sides have been seeking to reach an agreement in order for a proposal to be presented at a key summit. This would be before the European leaders next month who will be needing to grant their approval.
