David Cameron to set out UK plan for EU reform

British prime minister David Cameron will set out Britain's plans for a renegotiation of European Union membership when he arrives in Brussels today for a two-day summit of EU leaders, though any substantial discussion of the issue at European Council level is likely to be deferred until the autumn.

Mr Cameron, who will hold bilateral talks with European Council president Donald Tusk this afternoon ahead of the summit, is expected to make a presentation to leaders, though it is expected to be a relatively short exchange, according to officials.

“The hope is that we’ll set the ground for beginning detailed technical preparatory discussions that will begin after the council,” said one senior EU diplomat, pointing out that the British government had already set out its main areas of focus for the renegotiation, which include migration and benefit tourism; clarification on the relationship between countries inside and outside the euro zone; and the possibility of an opt-out from the EU’s commitment to ever-closer union.

Another EU official said the renegotiation process would be “initiated” at this week’s European Council meeting. “What is the time frame, how this process should be organised, will be decided in a few months to come.”

It is expected leaders will return to the issue formally at the October summit, with a more detailed discussion likely in December.

Dedicated unit

While European Council president Donald Tusk is likely to play a key role in the negotiations, yesterday the

European Commission

announced the establishment of a special unit dedicated to Britain’s relationship with the EU, to be headed by senior British EU official

Jonathan Faull

.

Announcing the unit's establishment yesterday, commissioner Kristalina Georgieva said it was "recognition of the significance of the work to be done" on the issue, though the task force is likely to focus on technical and legal aspects of the renegotiation process.

With the crisis in Greece overshadowing events in Brussels, officials admitted Britain would be competing with other issues for time and attention at this week's summit, though Mr Cameron is expected to hold bilateral talks with those leaders he has not yet met during his various bilateral contacts over the past few weeks.

Migration is also likely to feature strongly in the two-day summit, amid mounting opposition to the proposal for a mandatory relocation scheme for migrants announced by the European Commission last month. “The idea that Brussels might impose quotas is not going to fly,” a senior EU official said.

Ireland, which, with Britain and Denmark, would have to actively opt in to any EU relocation proposal, has not signalled if it will participate.

Today’s discussion will take place amid increasing alarm over Hungary’s decision this week to erect a fence on the Serbian border to deter illegal immigrants, and its temporary suspension of the so-called Dublin regulation which says refugees must apply for asylum in the country where they first arrive.

Diplomatic row

Its decision not to re-accept refugees that have entered the EU through Hungary has sparked a diplomatic row with Austria, which has tried to return migrants who have entered the EU through Hungary.

A commission spokeswoman said yesterday the EU was seeking immediate clarification about the suspension from Hungary. Budapest cited "technical reasons" for its suspension of the protocol, but in a sign of strengthening opposition to mandatory relocation schemes the so-called Visegrád Four, an informal group comprising Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary, underlined their opposition to any mandatory scheme for accepting migrants.

The closure of the Channel Tunnel this week following attempts by migrants to enter vehicles bound for Britain has also refocused attention on finding an EU-wide solution to migration.

At best, leaders at this week’s summit may agree in principle to consider the issue of distribution of migrants, though any details – and in particular the controversial issue of a “distribution key” that would be used to calculate how many migrants are distributed to each state – will be pushed forward for further discussion in July.

The apparent failure of the EU to fully endorse burden- sharing of migrants is likely to spur a strong reaction from Italy, which has consistently called for a more collective approach to migration.

A strong element of the European Council’s position is likely to be on an effective return and repatriation policy for illegal economic migrants, officials said.