PARIS—British Prime Minister David Cameron met with French President Francois Hollande on Monday evening for talks aimed at convincing Paris to grant London concessions ahead of a contentious referendum on whether the U.K. should leave the EU—a prospect known as the “Brexit.”
The meeting at the Elysee Palace comes as the European Commission’s president said that this week’s summit of EU leaders to thrash out a deal that would make it easier for Britain to remain within the 28-nation bloc will turn into a fight over social welfare issues.
A generous social welfare system has long been at the heart of society in continental Europe and non-discrimination among EU citizens a cornerstone of the union. Hence, the insistence of Cameron to deny some of those welfare rights to EU newcomers in Britain for up to four years has been a focal point of criticism.
“The social welfare system is, of course, at stake,” European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on the eve of a preparatory meeting with Cameron in Brussels.
