EU referendum: David Cameron claims there is pathway to UK renegotiation deal

Prime Minister David Cameron has claimed that a pathway exists to reaching a deal on new terms on Britain's membership of the EU.

Speaking with other EU leaders in Brussels on 17 December, the Conservative leader has been trying to renegotiate the terms of the UK's membership in the bloc before the country holds a likely in-out referendum on whether to stay in 2017.

His reform demands includes controversial plans to block access to benefits for working migrants from the bloc for up to four years, a move which has come under criticism by French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel as threatening the EU principle of freedom of movement.

"What I would say is there's a pathway through this to a deal in February. It's going to take a lot of hard work, but what I sensed tonight in the room, is that there's a lot of goodwill, there is momentum. People want a deal that keeps Britain in the European Union by giving us that opportunity in our referendum. But a lot has got to be done between now and then," Cameron said.

The talks were the first full talks on reform held by the 28-nation bloc. EU leaders have said they want to help Cameron keep Britain in the EU, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel adding that the leaders "all want a compromise".