While a reformed membership deal between the EU and UK was expected early on Friday as part of an 'English breakfast', many have expressed concern that talks may continue on into the weekend amid growing disagreements over a number of core issues.
'Europe’s Major Problem Is Migration, Not Brexit'
With British negotiations taking up most of the attention of the EU summit, critics have spoken out against London’s actions, accusing the UK of diverting time and attention away from other issues.
French MEP Alain Lamassoure expressed his frustration that the Brexit issue had robbed leaders of time to work towards a conclusion over the migration crisis. He told French newspaper Echos:
"This [Brexit] is indeed a problem for the [European] Union, but it’s above all a problem of the first order for the British. Europe’s major problem is the migrant crisis, as the euro was [before]. And our experience has demonstrated the Council cannot deal with two problems at once."
"We will therefore lose time discussing problems that are in fact internal to politics in Great Britain and no solution will be found for the migrant crisis… It’s above all a grave problem for the British."
German View: British Want 'Extra Sausages'
This frustration at the migrant crisis having to play second fiddle to British negotiations has also angered some in Germany, with the German press offering a criticism of the UK’s unwillingness to integrate further with other EU partners, amid a perception that the British insistent on being granted special treatment and concessions.
"Same procedure as every year, David" pic.twitter.com/nOzytpeos0
— Philip Oltermann (@philipoltermann) February 19, 2016
Daily newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung quoted a Brussels diplomat who complained that "one single man is threatening to push the entire EU into the abyss", while other broadcasters have referred to the "Extrawurste" (extra sausages) – Britain has received from the EU in the form of special favors and opt-outs.
Europe Urged to Look at the Future
However, perhaps the most stinging criticism came from Spanish MEP Enrique Calvet Chambon, who urged Europe to fight against the "blackmail of the United Kingdom".
In a YouTube post, he argued that the British demands to be exempt from greater EU integration were damaging to the overall project, arguing that "a more integrated Europe is absolutely indispensable".
Calvet Chambon argued that British efforts to reform its relationship with the EU were challenging the model that had prevailed in Europe for the past 60 years, which ultimately risked a return of the nationalism that plagued Europe last century.
"You have to get a historical point of view for our future, and not to get small negotiations for political interests in the short term."
