Europe forces Cameron to list his demands

Brussels: David Cameron on Thursday bowed to pressure from European leaders and promised to deliver a written list of his renegotiation demands within weeks.

The Prime Minister defused a brewing confrontation in Brussels by announcing that he would send a “substantive” letter outlining his reform agenda at the beginning of November.

It will be sent to Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, and the 27 other European leaders.

It will also be released to MPs and the British public.

The document will form the “basis for a more detailed discussion” with EU states, British sources said.

It is a tactical victory for Cameron’s counterparts, who had hoped the release of a definitive document would “pin him to a text” and prevent him from “springing” fresh demands on the EU later in the negotiations.

The letter may provide ammunition for Tory Eurosceptics who believe the renegotiation is a cosmetic exercise that will fall far short of “fundamental” change.

It will also provide a checklist against which any final deal will be compared.

European leaders including Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, and Francois Hollande, the French president had heaped pressure on Cameron to set out his plans in far more detail.

EU diplomats had previously been told to consult the Tory manifesto to understand the PM’s thinking.

Ahead of a private, 90-minute lunch in Brussels yesterday, Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commission president, demanded Cameron “tango”.

“Our British friends have to dance,” he said.

Arriving at the European Council in Brussels, Cameron said he would “quicken the pace” of the talks ahead of another summit in December.

It increases the chances of a referendum in the middle of 2016.

“The pace will now quicken and I’ll begin setting out the four vital areas where we need change, laying down what those changes will be at the start of November,” Cameron said.

“I’m confident we can get a good deal for Britain, we can fix these things that need to be fixed. I’m confident this process is well under way and making good progress.”

In another blow, Merkel indicated she would oppose Cameron’s plan to strip EU migrants of in-work benefits for four years - which will require treaty change.

“That there are achievements of European integration that cannot be haggled over, for example the principle of free movement and the principle of non-discrimination,” Merkel said.