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February 4, 2016

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Juncker says deal to avoid Brexit 鈥榝air鈥

The proposed deal to keep Britain in the European Union and avoid a 鈥淏rexit鈥 after a referendum is 鈥渇air鈥 for Britain and its 27 partners, European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said yesterday.

Juncker spoke a day after EU Council President Donald Tusk unveiled a series of proposals to help persuade Britons to stay in the European Union. The commission, the executive of the 28-nation bloc, firmly supported the proposals, Juncker told members of the European Parliament who will need to approve several of the plan鈥檚 most controversial points.

鈥淭he settlement that has been proposed is fair for the United Kingdom and fair for the other 27 member states,鈥 Juncker told the parliament in Strasbourg, France.

鈥淚t is also fair for the European parliament,鈥 he added.

The proposals include a four-year 鈥渆mergency brake鈥 on welfare payments for EU migrant workers, protection for countries that do not use the euro currency and a 鈥渞ed card鈥 system giving national parliaments more power.

鈥淲e have addressed the prime minister鈥檚 concerns while respecting the (EU) treaties,鈥 Juncker said.

鈥淚鈥檝e always said I wanted the UK to remain a member of the European Union on the basis of a fair deal,鈥 he told the MEPs including members of the UK Independence Party that back an exit by Britain from the EU.

UKIP head Nigel Farage said British Prime Minister Cameron would now 鈥減arade in front鈥 of EU leaders for more concessions at a summit in two weeks. 鈥淚 find it rather humiliating that a British prime minister has to do this. But I鈥檓 certain of one thing: he won鈥檛 get another thing,鈥 Farage told MEPs.


 

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