Cameron to Reject EU Reform Deal if Agreement Fails to ‘Meet What We Need’

British Prime Minister David Cameron said that London will support an EU reform deal only of it includes all UK requirements.

LONDON (Sputnik) – The United Kingdom will not accept an EU reform deal if it does not meet London’s requirements, British Prime Minister David Cameron said Thursday.

"If we can get a good deal, I’ll take that deal. But I will not take the deal that doesn’t meet what we need," Cameron told reporters arriving for the two-day EU Council in Brussels.

Ahead of the summit, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker expressed confidence that the United Kingdom would remain a "constructive and active" EU member.

Cameron faces off with 27 fellow EU leaders to revise the terms of the United Kingdom’s membership in the bloc ahead of a "Brexit" referendum planned to be held before the end of 2017.

London outlined four demands to Brussels comprising curbs on welfare benefits for intra-EU immigrants, financial controls on non-eurozone EU states, increasing EU competitiveness, and an opt-out for London from the European Union’s commitment to an ever-closer union.

In response to Cameron's demands, European Council President Donald Tusk proposed on February 2 a settlement plan for the United Kingdom. The settlement, which includes proposals in areas of economic governance, competitiveness, sovereignty, social benefits and free movement, is expected to be the key matter of discussion at the European Council.

Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia oppose Tusk’s proposal. Germany and France are reported to back the reform deal.