London---British Prime Minister David Cameron hosted European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Monday as he kickstarted diplomatic efforts to secure EU reforms ahead of a referendum on the country's membership.
Cameron promised British voters an in-out EU referendum by 2017 as part of his successful campaign to win a second term in office in this month's general election.
"The talks focused on reforming the EU and renegotiating the UK's relationship with it," a spokesman for Cameron's office 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 talks and a dinner of pork belly and a lime cream dessert at the prime minister's country retreat Chequers came ahead of Cameron's meetings with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande later in the week.
Although the two had a strained relationship in the past and Cameron fought to block Juncker being appointed head of the European Union's executive body last year, the former Luxembourg prime minister told the British leader he would try to help find a fair deal for the country.
"They talked through the issue at some length in the spirit of finding solutions to these problems," Cameron's spokesman said.
"They agreed that more discussion would be needed, including with other leaders, on the best way forward."
The Conservative leader is meeting European leaders to try and secure reforms on issues such as immigration, welfare eligibility and the power to refuse further integration before the referendum, which could take place as soon as 2016.
On Thursday and Friday, Cameron will visit a series of European capitals, meeting the leaders of Denmark, the Netherlands, France, Poland and Germany to seek support.
The prime minister aims to speak to all 27 other leaders of EU member states before a European Council summit at the end of next month.
AFP
