Cameron insists EU reform drive is going well – as other leaders SLAM his negotiations
DAVID Cameron has insisted his bid to renegotiate Britain's role in the European Union renegotiation is making "good progress".
David Cameron met with Donald Tusk in Brussels yesterday
He held talks with Donald Tusk, the European Council president, after the EU-Turkey summit in Brussels today.
The two men agreed to push on to "find solutions" to Mr Cameron's demands, according to a Downing Street spokeswoman.
The Prime Minister is expected to discuss the issue with fellow European leaders in Paris tomorrow.
But officials from Eastern Europe have slated his planned crackdown on migrants claiming benefits in the UK.
Under the reforms, EU migrants would be banned from taking state handouts until they have lived in Britain for four years.
Polish, Hungarian, Czech and Slovakian leaders are all thought to have blasted his controversial proposal.
European officials have slated his stance on benefits for migrants
The current British proposal breaches core European principles
One Eastern European diplomat said: "We could talk about this 'four years' proposal for 100 hours, but it isn't going to make a difference.
"The current British proposal breaches core European principles.
"For us this would mean the end of free movement."
Cameron's promised EU referendum will be held by 2017
Mr Cameron has also told Eastern European leaders that Britain's generous benefit system has led to a 'brain drain' in their own countries.
But another official blasted his claims, saying: "The argument is 'Do you really want your nurses and mechanics working as baristas in Starbucks in London?'
"That is not good for their economies and social cohesion."
Cameron meeting Tusk at Downing Street in 2011
Mr Cameron's spokeswoman admitted some "some areas" of his negotations are "more difficult than others" to agree to.
But "substantive discussion" is on the agenda for the European Council meeting next month, the spokeswoman added.
A final package of reforms is unlikely to be ready by then, according to sources.