The Heads of State or Government of the EU Member States gathered for the European Council meeting, chaired by Donald Tusk, on 18 February. The debate was dominated by the deal with the UK and the ongoing migration crisis. The result of the summit is a legally binding and irreversible decision, which confirms the UK`s ’special status’ in the EU. The deal revolves around topics of competitiveness, economic governance, sovereignty and social benefits and free movement. It allows the UK, among other measures, to impose limits on in-work benefits for EU workers and to place restrictions on non-EU family members of EU citizens who apply to come to the UK. At the same time, the next Treaty amendment will exempt Britain from the notion of an "ever-closer union".

Regarding migration, issues such as implementation of the EU-Turkey Action Plan, humanitarian assistance to Syrian refugees, external border management and the implementation of decisions on relocation, returns and readmission were discussed. The EU leaders also approved the intention to organize a special summit with Turkey in March.

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For the summary of the EU-UK deal click here