Treaties can be changed easily enough – with the agreement of the states that signed themDavid Cameron faces major obstacles in renegotiating Britain’s relationship with the European Union. On the shopping list he included in his speech at Chatham House were plans to end EU migrants claiming benefits until they have paid into the system for four years,to control immigration from within the EU, and to limit the power of the EU court of justice in Luxembourg.
But the obstacles Cameron faces are more political than legal. The EU is a treaty-based organisation. Treaties can be amended with the agreement of the states that signed them. If the other 27 EU member states accept the UK’s demands, or lawyers would eventually find a way of incorporating those amendments into treaty changes. So the prime minister can be forgiven for dismissing the “precise legal changes needed to bring approximately the reforms Britain needs” as a matter for negotiation.
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Source: theguardian.com