Chastened PM Cameron does EU rounds one last time

For the first time since the Brexit referendum, and probably for the last time as prime minister, David Cameron faced his 27 counterparts at an EU summit in Brussels.

Cameron had many battles with Brussels during his career. From his refusal to sign the fiscal compact treaty in 2011 to his attempt to block the appointment of Jean-Claude Juncker as European Commission president in 2014, the British prime minister has been a thorn in the side of the EU establishment.

Ironically, his plan to hold a referendum on EU membership had brought Cameron closer to his fellow European leaders. At a summit in December, he won over his counterparts as he gained their support in an effort to negotiate a new package for Britain that he could sell to his people in a referendum.

Yesterday, however, the brief bonhomie was as much a distant memory as the much- feted "British settlement" agreed in February, now consigned to the dustbin of history as the UK embarks on a very different path out of the European Union.

Constructive approach

Arriving in Brussels, Cameron struck a diplomatic tone as he told assembled reporters that Britain would not “turn our backs on Europe” despite the fact that the country would be leaving the European Union. In a plea for fair treatment, he asked EU leaders to take a “constructive” approach to the exit negotiations.

“ These countries are our neighbours, our friends, our allies, our partners,” he said. “I very much hope we’ll seek the closest possible relationship in terms of trade and co-operation and security, because that is good for us and that is good for them.”

Privately, Cameron was expected to be more candid during last night’s working dinner with EU leaders. Failure to accept public frustration with immigration levels, and an unwillingness to reform, was at least partly to blame for Britain’s rejection of the EU project.

Cameron was faced with a difficult balancing act. On the one hand, he had enough political leverage to argue that the EU needs to change if it is to retain the support of its citizens, many of whom share Britain’s concerns. With general elections looming next year, the German and French leaders are well aware of this.

Influence opinion

On the other hand, this was Cameron’s final opportunity as prime minister to influence the opinions of those who will be making the decisions about Britain’s new relationship with the EU when Britain is no longer in the room.

A similar recognition that Britain cannot afford to antagonise its EU partners was expressed by Syed Kamall, the leader of the Conservative Party in the European Parliament. Unlike Ukip leader Nigel Farage, Kamall delivered a nuanced speech yesterday in Brussels.

“Regardless of how we now proceed, Britain and the EU will continue to be close partners for years to come,” he said. “So now is not the time to replay the past. Now is the time to look to the future.”

Few political decisions were taken last night, but the politics of the occasion were hugely important and may shape the tone of the relationship between Britain and the EU over the next few months.

With Britain not expected to invoke Article 50 until the autumn, a phoney war is likely to set in over the summer.

European Council president Donald Tusk announced yesterday that a meeting of the 27 member states will take place in Bratislava in September – without Britain.

By that time, Cameron will likely be gone, his premiership consigned to history, and someone else will be leading Britain out of Europe. A new chapter in the EU's history will have begun.