‘Britain should stay in European Union for national security’ – Cameron warns

While Cameron is pushing for reforms of Britain’s relationship with the EU in four areas, it is the issue of benefit payments to European migrants which is the most problematic.

“We’ve made good progress, we are a step closer to agreement on the significant and far-reaching reforms I have proposed”, he said. “I hope it won’t be illegal”, he said.

“The commission said that they believed there were solutions – not compromises, solutions”. People want to find solutions.

“Nothing is certain in life, nor in Brussels, but what I would say is there is a pathway through this to a deal in February”, he added.

“We are open to discussion and compromise”.

“Leaders voiced their concerns but also demonstrated willingness to look for compromise”, Tusk told a news conference after the summit.

“How these changes are achieved has to be negotiated”, he told the BBC. “It is not something that can happen now but it can later”, she said. Mr Tusk and his officials are now working on a Plan B to present before the February summit.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon later insisted that the government would not back down on its manifesto commitment to reduce levels of European Union migration and would “fight for” the changes it wanted to see – but he stopped short of saying Mr Cameron would insist on a four year benefit ban.

“This is a major concern of the British people that is undermining support for the European Union”.

Mr Cameron has promised to hold an “in/out” referendum before the end of 2017 after securing a better deal for Britain’s membership. Downing Street has said his presentation to leaders – over a dinner without any of their diplomatic entourage – was created to put some political momentum into the renegotiation process.

Last month’s coordinated attacks on Paris restaurants and cafes, a theater and a suburban soccer stadium highlighted the ready availability in Europe of military assault rifles, as well as gaps in the immigration and customs checks that allow even people subject to global search warrants to travel unhindered.

And tellingly, French president Francois Hollande – possibly by mistake – said the target date for the referendum was June.

“Where there is a will, there is a way”, said German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Cameron says he will argue to stay as long as he gets a new deal for Britain, but a strong contingent within his Conservative Party favors leaving the EU.

Mrs Merkel said “intensive discussions” would be required to resolve the issues by February and said it would not be simple.

Citing unnamed sources, Britain’s Telegraph newspaper said Mr Cameron was planning to issue a document outlining the “changes, the benefits of the changes to Britain, and why therefore we need to stay in the EU”.

David Cameron faced pressure to give Eurosceptic ministers licence to campaign for Britain to leave the European Union as an MP said opinion within the party was “substantially hardening” against his renegotiation effort. “Now we can go away and work on the alternatives”, one of those now charged in Brussels with taking on the negotiations told Reuters in the early hours of Friday.

There are now two campaigns advocating exit: Leave.EU and Vote Leave.

Fox, a popular figure among Tory grassroots, noted also for his intellectual acumen, has seen his internal poll ratings rise as a hot favourite to succeed David Cameron as leader of the Conservative Party. How many times can his little plans be rejected?

He added: “All he got as a result was a meaningless two sentences in a communique”.