David Cameron has outlined his four goals for reforming the UK's membership of the EU, including restrictions on benefits for people coming to the UK.
He said Britain faced a "huge decision" in the in/out referendum promised before the end of 2017.
But he said he was confident of getting what he wanted from reform talks.
Anti-EU campaigners say the talks are a "gimmick" - and the European Commission said the UK's benefits proposals could break free movement laws.
Mr Cameron formally set out his demands in a letter to the president of the European Council Donald Tusk saying four objectives lie at the heart of the UK's renegotiations:
Mr Cameron hit back at claims by former Tory chancellor Lord Lawson that the four goals were "disappointingly unambitious", saying they reflected what the British people wanted and would be "good for Britain and good for the European Union".
I must have missed this brown mess being made public. So one at a time
He wants a single market in the EU for non EU countries? It's called the world, perhaps he should try living in it.
Companies to buy yellow or black insulation tape instead of red?
Bolster national parliaments, brick up the doors of Westminster to make sure the hot air doesn't make it fall down?
Restriction in what way?
If this referendum was the reason people voted for teh tw@'s we have in now then they must be very disappointed. It says nothing about what he's negotiating for really. Wishy washy at most. Pile of sh*t at worst, and laughable. Hands up those that will know how he's 'won' the concessions that he's asking for... more so since he appears to be incapable of defining his goals he's setting himself.
He said Britain faced a "huge decision" in the in/out referendum promised before the end of 2017.
But he said he was confident of getting what he wanted from reform talks.
Anti-EU campaigners say the talks are a "gimmick" - and the European Commission said the UK's benefits proposals could break free movement laws.
Mr Cameron formally set out his demands in a letter to the president of the European Council Donald Tusk saying four objectives lie at the heart of the UK's renegotiations:
- Protection of the single market for Britain and other non-euro countries
- Boosting competitiveness by setting a target for the reduction of the "burden" of red tape
- Exempting Britain from "ever-closer union" and bolstering national parliaments
- Restricting EU migrants' access to in-work benefits such as tax credits
Mr Cameron hit back at claims by former Tory chancellor Lord Lawson that the four goals were "disappointingly unambitious", saying they reflected what the British people wanted and would be "good for Britain and good for the European Union".
I must have missed this brown mess being made public. So one at a time
He wants a single market in the EU for non EU countries? It's called the world, perhaps he should try living in it.
Companies to buy yellow or black insulation tape instead of red?
Bolster national parliaments, brick up the doors of Westminster to make sure the hot air doesn't make it fall down?
Restriction in what way?
If this referendum was the reason people voted for teh tw@'s we have in now then they must be very disappointed. It says nothing about what he's negotiating for really. Wishy washy at most. Pile of sh*t at worst, and laughable. Hands up those that will know how he's 'won' the concessions that he's asking for... more so since he appears to be incapable of defining his goals he's setting himself.
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