MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

PM Cameron and EC Juncker begin talks to renegotiate UK EU membership

Talks between Cameron and Juncker on Monday had focused on “reforming the EU and renegotiating the UK's relationship with it”, the No 10 spokesman said.

David Cameron has told European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker that “British people are not happy with the status quo” in Europe. The prime minister hosted Mr. Juncker at Chequers at the start of a week of efforts to renegotiate Britain's EU membership.

 The EC president “reiterated that he wanted to find a fair deal for the UK”, said a No 10 spokesman after the talks. The PM has promised to hold an “in-out” referendum by the end of 2017.

Earlier, No 10 confirmed UK-based citizens from most EU countries would not get a vote. The eligibility rules will be broadly the same as for a general election, rather than for local or European polls.

The talks between PM Cameron and Juncker on Monday had focused on “reforming the EU and renegotiating the UK's relationship with it”, the No 10 spokesman said.

“The prime minister underlined that the British people are not happy with the status quo and believe that the EU needs to change in order to better address their concerns,” the spokesman said.

“Mr. Juncker reiterated that he wanted to find a fair deal for the UK and would seek to help. They talked through the issue at some length in the spirit of finding solutions to these problems.

”They agreed that more discussion would be needed, including with other leaders, on the best way forward.”

Over the coming days, Mr Cameron will travel to France, Germany, Denmark, Poland and the Netherlands to hold talks with European leaders. And on Thursday, legislation on the voting eligibility for the referendum will be introduced to Parliament via the EU Referendum Bill.

Earlier, No 10 confirmed UK-based citizens from most EU countries would not get a vote. Irish citizens in the UK will be eligible, while residents from two other EU nations - Malta and Cyprus - also qualify, along with others from the Commonwealth. In total, about 46 million people will be able to take part.