Cameron: EU proposals real progress in difficult talks

British Prime Minister David Cameron says the draft program unveiled by the European Union President Donald Tusk represents “real progress” in difficult negotiations with the bloc.

He went on saying that more work was needed.Meanwhile, his spokesperson set the program to keep Britain in the European Union will help Britain better control immigration and, if agreed, would be legally binding and irreversible.

"This text, if agreed by all member states, is in itself an international law decision that is legally binding and irreversible. The proposals in the area of immigration and welfare will enable us to have better control of migration from the EU," said the spokesperson. 

Earlier, Tusk unveiled key proposals to keep Britain in the EU, including a four-year brake on benefit payments for migrant workers and protection for countries that do not use the euro currency.

"To be, or not to be together, that is the question... My proposal for a new settlement for #UKinEU," Tusk tweeted as he published the plan ahead of a crucial summit slated for February when EU states will try for an overall deal.

According to Tusk's draft text, the EU states could halt welfare payments to workers from other countries in the bloc when an exceptional situation exists on a scale that affects essential aspects of its social security system.

He also proposed a "mechanism" by which the nine countries that are not in the euro can raise concerns and be given "necessary reassurances" about decisions by the eurozone.

He stressed that the mechanism "cannot constitute a veto nor delay urgent decisions" adding that the conditions for triggering the mechanism had to be discussed before the summit.

Britain's Europe minister told parliament that an EU deal now "appears in sight." 

"Much progress has been made in recent days and it appears that a deal is in sight..but I stress to the House that there is still a lot of work to be done," David Lidington told MPs.

Cameron wants to hold a referendum on the UK's membership of the EU by the end of next year.

"Cameron and his Conservative government are seeking to garner support for their xenophobic outlook," the senior analysts from Foreign Policy in Focus, Ian Williams told Press TV.

He went on saying that Cameron's decisions towards the EU is motivated by partisan interest. According to Williams, Britain is a bad member of the EU an doesn’t follow its rule.

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