EU reform is binding, says David Cameron as Danish PM backs UK plan

David Cameron has dismissed claims that his EU reform package could be undone in the future even if it is agreed at a crucial Brussels summit later this month.

David Cameron met his Polish counterpart Beata Szydlo before travelling on to Copenhagen. Picture: AFP

The president of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, sparked controversy over the deal when he warned: “Nothing is irreversible.”

However, speaking in Copenhagen on Friday, Mr Cameron said that in practice the package could not be undone once it has been agreed by all 28 member states.

“If it is agreed it will be a legally binding treaty deposited at the United Nations,” he said.

“It would only be reversible if all 28 countries including Britain agreed to reverse it. Given that it’s the treaty that Britain wants, there is no way we are going to agree to reverse it. So while it is technically reversible if we agree to reverse it, it is not in fact reversible.”

His comments came after Mr Schulz told Sky News: “Nothing in life is irreversible, therefore legally binding decisions are also reversible, nothing is irreversible.”

Mr Cameron’s comments came after talks with Denmark’s prime minister, who pledged his support to help secure a deal on the reforms of Britain’s relationship with the European Union.

Lars Lokke Rasmussen said Danes wanted the UK to remain and hailed Britain as a voice of “common sense”.

The reform package put forward earlier this week was “a good basis for negotiations” over the coming days and weeks, he said.

“It contains many elements which Denmark strongly supports and which we will work hard to retain,” he added.

Mr Rasmussen said he backed “all the elements” on access to welfare benefits, telling reporters the proposals would benefit Denmark and the rest of the EU. The emergency brake was “perfectly understandable and acceptable” to Denmark, he said.

Mr Rasmussen added: “Denmark will work hard to ensure a result which can help the British Government win a referendum and remain a key member of the European Union.”

Mr Cameron added: “I still need all 28 countries to agree to the changes, there are still important details to be filled in and work to be done.

“But I think if you look at what we are actually achieving, that is what we promised in our manifesto and that is what we are delivering.”