Cameron's EU reforms: political feasibility and legal implications

David Cameron, the UK Prime Minister, has set out the priorities for the reform of the relationship between the UK and the EU in the run-up to an in/out referendum in 2016 or 2017. He highlights four priorities, which range from strengthening the Union’s competitiveness to protecting the UK’s interests in areas of market integration, migration and welfare. The extent to which these reforms will be successful depends on the legal structure of these policy areas, and the institutional veto players in the reform process.