Cameron ‘stressed’ ahead of EU summit

Several EU countries have rejected British Prime Minister David Cameron’s migrant benefits plan, giving rise to fresh concerns over the UK’s membership of the European Union.

With less than a day to go before EU crush summit, Eastern bloc states including Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Czech Republic have already dismissed current proposals on curbing child benefits for their migrant workers in western Europe.

The leaders of the Eastern bloc countries have made clear that the proposed plans, a key demand in Cameron’s campaign, are not acceptable.

They argue that London should water down key demands for restrictions on migrant benefits as the price for signing up to wider EU renegotiation package.

Reports coming out of the UK suggest that David Cameron is under tremendous pressure over the new challenge.

Some experts believe that watering down of migrant benefit proposals is unacceptable as it will be portrayed as a humiliating climbdown by the Out campaign in the country.

Downing Street has emphasized that Cameron had been “steadfast” in his demands.

German support for UK

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has described Cameron's demands as 'justified'.

Speaking to the German parliament on Wednesday, Merkel made clear that it is in her country's 'national interest' for Britain to stay in the EU.

“Mr Cameron's demands are far from being demands that are just for Britain…They are also European demands and many of them are justified and necessary,” Merkel reiterated.

‘Walk extra mile’

EU Council president Donald Tusk has called on EU leaders to “walk an extra mile” to clinch a deal with the UK.

David Cameron is now bracing for all-night talks with his European counterparts during the crunch summit on Thursday, as he struggles to defend his draft migration benefits on different fronts.

He will have to work on a separate plan to convince skeptical Tories, including Boris Johnson, to back his reform deal.

'Serious split'

A London-based political analyst has cast doubt on the prospect of a deal between EU and the UK during the upcoming talks, saying the issue will cause a "serious split" within the Tory cabinet.

“That will eradicate one of the fundamental pillars of the European Union… So David Cameron will have to say to the public , to parliament, to his own party, this is the agreement I’ve got, the best possible agreement, to the European Union…I think there will be a very serious split within the Conservative cabinet ” Marcus Papadopoulos told Press TV.

Cameron may announce the date of the UK's referendum on EU membership on Friday.

March 17 is still seen as the most likely date of a UK referendum if he gets a deal in February or March.

Cameron has until the end of 2017 to hold the referendum.

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