David Cameron today arrived in Brussels vowing he would be 'battling for Britain' and warning his fellow leaders he would not take a deal that 'does not meet what we need'.
The Prime Minister arrived at the EU summit to try and seal a deal on Britain's membership but faced a series of potential problems.
Draft changes to the deal released overnight have revealed that all member states would be allowed to restrict benefits to EU migrants - a move which is likely to infuriate the so-called 'Visegrad Group' in eastern Europe.
Failure to strike a deal in the next 24 hours could force Mr Cameron to delay Britain's EU referendum from the summer despite clear signals it is pencilled in for June 23.
But at the start of a meeting which could define his premiership Mr Cameron said: 'We've got some important work to do today and tomorrow and it is going to be hard. I'll be battling for Britain.'
Mr Cameron, pictured today as he arrived at the summit in Brussels, is hoping to finalise a deal in the coming hours which will allow him to call the referendum on Britian's membership of the EU this summer
Mr Cameron, pictured today as he arrived at the talks, said he would be 'battling for Britain' but would only take the right deal home with him
Addressing waiting reporters outside the summit venue, Mr Cameron continued: ‘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.
‘It is much more important to get this right than to do anything in a rush.
'But with good will, and hard work, we can get a better deal for Britain.’
A failure to strike a deal at the summit, which is due to end tomorrow lunchtime, could force a delat to plans to hold the referendum this summer.
British officials last night admitted this was 'crunch time' and it would be 'deal or no deal'.
But changes which emerged overnight are likely to be fiercely opposed by eastern European countries.
They fear millions of their citizens living in western European states will face discrimination over benefits.
In previous versions of the text the so-called 'emergency brake' would have only applied to Britain, Ireland and Sweden - the three member states that did not take advantage of transitional controls on EU migrants from Poland and nine other eastern European countries in 2004.
Countries such as Germany and Austria - overwhelmed by refugees fleeing the Middle East - demanded that they too can introduce temporary restrictions on EU migrants claiming in-work benefits.
David Cameron, pictured leaving Downing Street this morning, faces another roadblock in his plans to reform Britain's membership of the EU
But in a sign of progress, EU sources said French concerns over protecting the eurozone may have been dealt with.
One set of 'square brackets' - which denote disagreement in the draft text - are set to be lifted before the first formal meeting this afternoon.
The latest changes on benefits are still likely to make a deal more difficult to reach.
Romania voiced opposition to the latest changes this morning, worried that the ability of all member states to impose restrictions on benefits being paid to their citizens would harm the million Romanians currently living in Spain and Italy.
Arriving at the summit, European Council president Donald Tusk - the man charged with running today's talks - warned there was a lot of work to do.
He said: 'As you know we are in the middle of still very difficult and sensitive negotiations on the UK question.
'One thing is clear to me, this is a make or break summit, I have no doubt.'
But speaking this morning, European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said he was 'convinced' that the UK would remain a 'constructive and active' member of the 28-nation bloc.
Mr Juncker said: 'I'm quite confident that we will have a deal during this European Council.'
He added: 'I'm convinced that Britain will be a constructive and active member of the European Union.'
Mr Cameron departed for Brussels today for crucial talks with EU leaders, with key elements of his demands for change in Britain's relations with the EU still in dispute.
Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, pictured right alongside Parliament president Martin Schulz this morning, said he was 'convinced' the UK would remain a 'constructive and active' member
Nigel Farage, pictured in Brussels as the leader's gathered today, continued his criticism of the deal today warning Mr Cameron would get no meaningful reform
The Prime Minister will meet Mr Tusk at the European Council building for discussions ahead of the summit and was also due to meet Croatian PM Tihomir Oreskovic and Latvian PM Maris Kucinskis, both of whom have been elected since the last Council summit in December.
An EU source said at the end of tonight's dinner Mr Tusk will tell leaders 'we'll see each other again tomorrow' and added the breakfast tomorrow will be 'when the real negotiations take place and hopefully there will be an agreement.
The source said: 'At the round table at the start of the summit the main issues will identified and the persons with biggest problem identified. Sherpas will work through the night to find a solution.
'Tomorrow morning they will hopefully assemble to adopt conclusions. Each and every member state will sign. They won't need to vote as it has to be consensus.'
Mr Tusk and Mr Cameron will meet this afternoon.
The source said: 'It's a last chance to meet and see where Cameron is and for Tusk to explain his intentions in managing the meeting.'
The source added that it is 'our hope' that the square brackets will be 'lifted' from the section on the Eurozone safeguards before the start of the meeting.
Ukip leader Nigel Farage today dismissed the deal before talks even formally began, insisting it would not be 'legally binding' and was like offering voters a car but 'telling them they can't check if the engine works'.
The section details the emergency brake on migrant benefits, pictured in the latest draft, is also set to be highly contentious at tonight’s talks. Eastern European countries are keen for it only to apply to Britain but other states, led by Germany and Austria, have said it could be a wider power for all members.
Leaders will have to discuss a deeply technical section of the document on financial stability responsibilities as they remain in ‘square brackets’, pictured. France and Germany are said to be uncomfortable with clauses marking the City of London as different under EU rules
There are further square brackets around a clause, pictured, committing all member states to changing the treaties on economic governance
Parliament president Mr Schulz today told reporters: 'We as legislators will be working intensively as soon as we have the basic text available, the pre-requisites of this are that there would have to be an agreement today amongst all the member states and secondly we need to have a yes vote in the referendum.
'In the European Parliament I can say we have a great deal of interest in ensuring the UK remains a member of the EU together we are stronger and we will work constructively to ensure that is what ensured is actually put into legislative form in the EU.'
Britain made clear that the PM is ready to walk away without agreement if he cannot secure a satisfactory package.
'This is crunch time,' said one UK official. 'We need to secure the right settlement for the British people.'
Mr Cameron's deal with EU leaders is far from done and talks may go down to the wire tomorrow.
EU officials have scheduled a 'brunch' of English breakfast to nail down the final details.
Many points in the final document remain in 'square brackets', a mark in diplomatic circles indicated an unagreed point.
Government sources today insisted there was 'broad support' to find a way through on every point.
But there remains an impasse on several key areas:
EU Council president Donald Tusk, pictured right with Croatian PM, said last night that the deal was still 'fragile'
- Securing 'treaty change' on two points: the commitment to 'ever closer union' and how the eurozone works in relation to other countries like the pound.
- The 'red card' mechanism for escalating issues of concern in member states to the European Council
- The 'emergency brake' on restricting benefit payments to migrants. There are particular difficulties on how long this will last.
- Exactly how child benefit will be 'indexed' to local rates and whether the change will apply to new migrants only or people already in Britain.
Despite signs of another roadblock in the deal, a Government source said ahead of today's summit: 'The PM will be battling hard on all of those areas, seeking to fix the issues that really matter to people here in Britain.'
'We have made a lot of progress compared to where people thought we were.
'We have got broad support for finding a way through on every issue.
'The outstanding things where I expect leaders will be focusing their time and energy are around the issue of treaty change, whether or not every country is willing to incorporate the two areas where we would like treaty change - ever closer union and the eurozone.'
On plans for an 'emergency brake', the Government source added: 'On welfare and free movement I expect the focus to be around the emergency brake on restructing benefits to migrants for four years, in particular the length of that and also around indexation of child benefit.'
THOUSANDS OF MILES AND COUNTLESS HOURS ON THE ROAD: HOW DAVID CAMERON GOT HIS DEAL ON EU MEMBERSHIP THIS FAR
Mr Cameron has met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on many occasions during his renegotiation, most recently at last week's annual Matthiae-Mahlzeit dinner at the city hall in Hamburg, pictured
David Cameron has visited 20 European countries and met everyone of his 27 fellow leaders during his renegotiation tour.
As a deal inched closer to completion, Government sources spelled out the unprecedented diplomatic offensive embarked upon by Mr Cameron to get his agreement.
The final document is the first attempt to 'fundamentally reform' a country's membership of the EU from inside.
The source insisted no country had ever tried to renegotiate its membership before and pointed to successes secured on the single currency and sovereignty
The source said: 'The Prime Minister has really led the charge on this.
'He's taken a very personal involvement from the moment he was re-elected to meet and engage with European leaders.'
Mr Cameron has travelled far on wide during his talks, including to Hungary to meet Viktor Orban in January, left, and Portugal in September last year for talks with Pedro Passos Coelho
Earlier this month, Mr Cameron visited Poland for talks with Prime Minister Beata Szydlo on his deal as he worked to finalise the details ahead of today's summit
Mr Cameron has trekked to 20 different EU states for talks - many more than once.
The PM has met every EU leader twice during the talks, including 10 of them in Downing Street.
The renegotiation has been raised at 13 different world summits - either as the main business or in the fringes of unrelated gatherings.
And Mr Cameron has had talks on 'more than 26' occasions with the leaders of the European Commission, European Council and European Parliament.
The source added: 'He was the first Prime Minister to go to Austria in over 30 years. The first to go to Bulgaria and Romania in over 16 years. The first ever British Prime Minister to visit an independent Slovenia.'
Boris Johnson and Michael Gove are 'leaning towards' backing Brexit over David Cameron's 'unimpressive' deal
Boris Johnson and Michael Gove are 'leaning towards' supporting Britain's exit from the EU, it has emerged as David Cameron left for Brussels this morning for crunch talks with European leaders.
The pair are not impressed with the Prime Minister's efforts to make British law superior over EU law, according to friends.
If the pair decided to back Brexit, it would deal a major blow to the Prime Minister's hopes of keeping Britain in the EU.
Boris Johnson (left) and Michael Gove (right) are 'leaning towards' backing Brexit, it emerged last night as Eurosceptics won over another influential voice in Penny Mordaunt (centre), the defence minister who starred in ITV diving show Splash two years ago
Mr Johnson's decision could be particularly decisive after a poll revealed that one in three people see him as 'important' to helping them decide which way to vote in the EU referendum, which is expected to be held in June.
News of another minister to back Brexit emerged this morning, with Penny Mordaunt, the Armed Forces minister who starred on the primetime ITV diving show Splash two years ago, being won over by Eurosceptics.
Mr Johnson and Mr Gove want assurances from Mr Cameron that he end the practice of European courts overriding British law.
Judgments by the European Court of Justice that have caused outrage over recent years have included the decision to block the deportation of the radical preacher Abu Qatada and the attempt to force Britain to give prisoners the right to vote.
Nigel Farage, pictured, arrives in Brussels ahead of David Cameron's crunch summit with EU leaders. A poll yesterday found one in five people viewed him as 'important' in deciding which way they vote
Earlier this month Mr Cameron promised to 'put beyond doubt' the sovereignty of the British Parliament after Mr Johnson demanded assurances.
But despite a 40-minute private meeting in Downing Street yesterday, it appears the Prime Minister has yet to convince the Mayor of London of his plans to reform Britain's membership of the EU.
And now he and Mr Gove are 'leaning towards the exit' due to the weakness of Mr Cameron's plans, two 'well-placed sources' told ITV News last night.
Mr Johnson has told reporters that he will make up his mind on which side of the referendum campaign to join when he finds out whether the sovereignty package is a 'bazooka or a popgun'.
At the weekend he made a further hint he would join the Out campaign after saying there was 'no reason to be afraid' of leaving the EU.
The London Mayor said he would 'come off the fence with deafening éclat' as soon as Mr Cameron secures a deal.
The uncertainty over two of the biggest Tory figures deals a blow to Mr Cameron's hopes of securing a deal that will persuade the British public to stay in the EU.
He will leave Downing Street around mid-morning and will hold a meeting with EU Council President Donald Tusk before EU leaders sit down to discuss the details of Britain's renegotiation.
Britain's membership is due to be top of the agenda at the summit and EU leaders hope to agree a deal by tomorrow morning, which would allow the Prime Minister to head home to kick-start the referendum campaign tomorrow.
He is expected to choose June 23 as the date of the referendum.
WHAT DOES DAVID CAMERON STILL NEED TO SECURE FROM EU LEADERS TO DECLARE HIS DEAL IS DONE?
Mr Cameron's talks at the EU summit will involve both formal sessions and conversations in the margins with key figures - including Commission president Jean Claude Junker, centre, and Dutch PM Mark Rutte, right, pictured at a summit last year
David Cameron's deal with EU leaders is far from done and talks may go down to the wire tomorrow (FRI).
EU officials have scheduled a 'brunch' of English breakfast to nail down the final details.
Many points in the final document remain in 'square brackets', a mark in diplomatic circles indicated an unagreed point.
Government sources today insisted there was 'broad support' to find a way through on every point.
But there remains an impasse on several key areas:
- Securing 'treaty change' on two points: the commitment to 'ever closer union' and how the eurozone works in relation to other countries like the pound.
- The 'red card' mechanism for escalating issues of concern in member states to the European Council
- The 'emergency brake' on restricting benefit payments to migrants. There are particular difficulties on how long this will last.
- Exactly how child benefit will be 'indexed' to local rates and whether the change will apply to new migrants only or people already in Britain.
Government sources said: 'The PM will be battling hard on all of those areas, seeking to fix the issues that really matter to people here in Britain.'
The second draft of Mr Cameron's prosposals highlighted problems around the deal on the currency, pictured. Government sources today made clear the issue was not yet resolved as the final summit began
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