Juncker ‘confident’ of deal to avoid British EU exit

LONDON

British Prime Minister David Cameron has declared he is “battling for Britain” as he arrived at a crucial Brussels summit to discuss his country’s future in the European Union.

Cameron is hoping to secure an agreement from 27 other European heads of state and government on his renegotiation of Britain’s membership terms.

“We have got some important work to do today and tomorrow and it's going to be hard. I will be battling for Britain; if we can get a good deal I will take that deal but I will not take a deal that does not meet what we need,” he told reporters in Brussels Thursday.

“I think it is much more important to get this right than to do anything in a rush. But with goodwill, with hard work, we can get a better deal for Britain,” he added.

His comments came after European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said he was “quite confident” a deal would be reached Thursday to secure Britain’s future in the EU.

Addressing reporters in Brussels ahead of a summit of European leaders, Juncker said: “I'm quite confident that we will have a deal during this European Council".

He said “significant” discussions remained for the leaders, but added: “I'm convinced that Britain will be a constructive and active member of the European Union”.

Cameron will have to placate concerns from four countries in Eastern Europe who are opposed to British demands to curb welfare benefits for migrant workers within the EU, one of Cameron’s key demands.

Many nationals from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia have migrated to richer member states, including Britain, since they joined the EU in 2004.

Meanwhile, France is concerned that another Cameron demand -- no discrimination against EU member states that do not use the European single currency -- could grant Britain a veto on eurozone matters.

France 24 quoted French President Francois Hollande as saying “there can be no veto by countries outside the eurozone” on single-currency policies.

“We have reached a point that should give Britons the reassurances needed while respecting European principles,” Hollande said.