Speech: Prime Minister’s speech with Chancellor Merkel in Hamburg: 12 February 2016 / PM meeting with President Hollande in Paris: 15 February 2016 / PM meetings with MEPs in Brussels: 16 February 2016

In the lead up to the European Council, Brussels, 18-19 February 2016 United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron continued his attempts to secure support from other EU Member States and the EU Institutions to the draft deal tabled by European Council President Donald Tusk on the 2 February 2016 to accommodate demands by the United Kingdom for a deal to reform its relationship with the EU.

He gave a speech on the United Kingdom's relationship with the European Union at the Matthiae-Mahlzeit dinner in Hamburg with Chancellor Merkel on the 12 February 2016.

The support of Chancellor Merkel to the draft deal was seen as essential to the UK securing support from all Member States to the deal at the European Council.

Prime Minister David Cameron and President Hollande of France held discussions in Paris on the 15 February 2016 on both the UK renegotiation and the situation in Syria.

In addition, David Cameron agreed to speak to senior European Parliament political leaders ('Conference of Presidents') on the 16 February 2016 ahead of the European Council summit. In the event Mr Cameron met a more restricted group of the lead negotiators of the three main political groups.

• Primary Source

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

ESO: Background information: Letter by President Donald Tusk to the Members of the European Council on his proposal for a new settlement for the United Kingdom within the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-letter-by-president-donald-tusk-to-the-members-of-the-european-council-on-his-proposal-for-a-new-settlement-for-the-united-kingdom-within-the-european-union/

ESO: Background information: Cameron’s draft deal – how does Europe see it? http://www.europeansources.info/record/camerons-draft-deal-how-does-europe-see-it/

ESO: Background information: European Council, Brussels 18-19 February 2016 http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-council-brussels-18-19-february-2016/

BBC News, 14.02.16: UK will never 'retreat from world' says David Cameron http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-35566275

The Guardian, 12.02.16: EU referendum: We must stay to unite against aggression, says Cameron http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/feb/12/we-must-stay-in-eu-to-unite-against-aggression-says-david-cameron

Deutsche Welle, 13.02.16: Cameron, Merkel confident of reaching deal to keep Britain in EU http://dw.com/p/1HukP

United Kingdom, Prime Minister's Office: Press Release, 15.02.16: PM meeting with President Hollande in Paris: 15 February 2016 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-meeting-with-president-hollande-in-paris-15-february-2016

Politico, 15.02.16: French confection: Get ready for summit fudge on eurozone rules http://www.politico.eu/article/the-french-confection-get-ready-for-summit-fudge-on-eurozone-rules-david-cameron-francois-hollande-brexit-eu-referendum-uk-france/

EUObserver, 16.02.16: Cameron faces 'crunch time' in Brussels and London https://euobserver.com/institutional/132286

BBC News, 16.02.16: David Cameron in Brussels for crucial EU talks http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-35584189

European Parliament: Press Release, 16.02.16: Reform of UK membership: 'Parliament will do the utmost to support the compromise' http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20160216STO14546/pdf

EurActiv, 15.02.16: Who could block an EU ‘Brexit’ deal? http://www.euractiv.com/section/david-cameron/news/who-could-block-an-eu-brexit-deal/

EurActiv, 11.02.16: City of London’s relations with eurozone confounding Brexit talks http://www.euractiv.com/sections/euro-finance/city-londons-relations-eurozone-confoundiing-brexit-talks-321745

EurActiv, 09.02.16: In-work benefits emerge as main stumbling block ahead of Brexit summit http://www.euractiv.com/sections/social-europe-jobs/work-benefits-emerge-main-stumbling-block-ahead-brexit-summit-321712

EUObserver, 10.02.16: UK offered legally binding EU commitments https://euobserver.com/institutional/132206

Politico, 16.02.16: Cameron gets no guarantees from European Parliament http://www.politico.eu/article/martin-schulz-no-guarantee-on-uk-welfare-reform-outcome-brexit-david-cameron/

EUObserver 16.02.16: Cameron seeks good will of MEPs in 'Brexit' talks https://euobserver.com/political/132293

United Kingdom, Prime Minister's Office: Press Release, 16.02.16: PM meetings with MEPs in Brussels: 16 February 2016 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-meetings-with-meps-in-brussels-16-february-2016

Euro|Topics: Debates, February 2016: EU partners want to prevent Brexit http://www.eurotopics.net/en/153501/eu-partners-want-to-prevent-brexit

Politico, 18.02.16: David Cameron stumbles towards EU deal http://www.politico.eu/article/terrible-week-for-david-cameron-ahead-of-eu-summit-brexit/

EUObserver, 18.02.16: Technical parts of UK deal left to EU leaders https://euobserver.com/institutional/132324

EurActiv, 18.02.16: Cameron to get his EU deal over English breakfast http://www.euractiv.com/section/future-eu/news/cameron-to-get-his-eu-deal-over-english-breakfast-2/

The Guardian, 18.02.16: David Cameron faces growing rift at EU summit in Brussels http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/18/david-cameron-european-union-summit-brussels

United Kingdom, Prime Minister's Office: Press Release, 17.02.16: PM call with Donald Tusk: 17 February 2016 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-call-with-donald-tusk-17-february-2016

VoxEurop, 18.02.16: UK Referendum: David Cameron’s lost opportunity at the European Parliament http://www.voxeurop.eu/en/content/blog/5052192-david-cameron-s-lost-opportunity-european-parliament

Chatham House: Expert Comment, 15.02.16: Cameron’s EU Renegotiation Has Entered Its Most Dangerous Phase https://www.chathamhouse.org/expert/comment/cameron-s-eu-renegotiation-has-entered-its-most-dangerous-phase

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