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EU referendum: Cameron to hold talks in Poland and Denmark EU referendum: Cameron seeks Polish backing for reform deal
(about 7 hours later)
David Cameron is travelling to Poland and Denmark as he tries to win support for his package of reforms aimed at keeping Britain in the EU. Poland has said it supports aspects of David Cameron's EU renegotiation package but plans to limit benefits for EU migrants need "further discussion".
A draft agreement was published this week and the prime minister is hoping a deal will be backed in two weeks. Speaking as she met Mr Cameron in Warsaw, Polish PM Beata Szydlo said she backed the UK's plans to boost national sovereignty and raise competitiveness.
Proposals to curb EU migrants' benefits are expected to dominate the talks in Warsaw - Poland has said it fears its citizens could face discrimination. But she said changes to welfare needed to be "ironed out" to ensure Poles in the UK were not disadvantaged.
The agreement has been dismissed as meaningless by "Out" campaigners. Mr Cameron is trying to garner support for an EU-wide deal in two weeks time.
The support of Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia - the so-called the Visegrad group - is seen as crucial if the prime minister is to get an agreement to his draft renegotiation package at a summit of EU leaders on 18 and 19 February, paving the way for a UK referendum in June.
Polish workers
Proposals to curb EU migrants' benefits are the main sticking point, with Poland and other countries warning that it breaks freedom of movement rules and discriminates against their citizens.
At a joint press conference in Warsaw, Ms Szydlo said it was "very important" for the UK to remain in the EU and she threw her weight behind at least two of Mr Cameron's four main proposed changes, on giving more power to national Parliaments and slashing regulation to make the EU more dynamic.
"We fully support the prime minister's proposals regarding solutions that are aimed at improving competitiveness, removing red tape and granting proper significance to national parliaments," she said.
But she said the welfare changes needed more consideration. "There are always topics that need to be ironed out," she told reporters. "Over a million Poles live and work in Britain. Their work is growing Britain's GDP and we want them to enjoy the same kind of opportunities for development as Britons."
Mr Cameron said he was working towards a "full strategic partnership" between the two countries on a range of issues. He said the two countries had "shared interest in making sure that Europe is a Europe that respects and understands the importance of nation states and the role that they play".
Resistance?Resistance?
The draft proposals were published by European Council president Donald Tusk on Tuesday after months of negotiations between UK and EU officials and pave the way for Britain's EU referendum to take place as early as June.The draft proposals were published by European Council president Donald Tusk on Tuesday after months of negotiations between UK and EU officials and pave the way for Britain's EU referendum to take place as early as June.
An EU source close to the negotiations told the BBC the proposals had met initial resistance from many countries and Mr Cameron faced two weeks of "difficult" negotiations before a summit in Brussels on 18 and 19 February. An EU source close to the negotiations told the BBC the proposals had met initial resistance from many countries and Mr Cameron faced two weeks of "difficult" negotiations before the summit in Brussels.
Among the potential sticking points, the source said, were Mr Cameron's proposals on changing the EU rules to make it easier for member states to band together to block EU laws - and plans to protect non-eurozone countries.Among the potential sticking points, the source said, were Mr Cameron's proposals on changing the EU rules to make it easier for member states to band together to block EU laws - and plans to protect non-eurozone countries.
Other issues include the proposal for an "emergency brake" on in-work benefits. The BBC's Adam Easton said the UK should be "cautiously optimistic" about getting Polish support but there were still differences, particularly over the issue include the proposal for an "emergency brake" on in-work benefits.
BBC political correspondent Ben Wright said that issue was certain to dominate the talks in Warsaw. Mr Cameron will later travel to Denmark - a country historically sceptical about the EU and which has opt outs and concerns which are similar to Britain's.
But our correspondent said Mr Cameron should expect a supportive welcome in Denmark - a country historically sceptical about the EU and which has opt outs and concerns which are similar to Britain's.
Speaking outSpeaking out
In Brussels ambassadors and officials from the 28 member states will meet for the first time since the proposals were published to try to hammer out further compromises. Meanwhile, in Brussels ambassadors and officials from the 28 member states will meet for the first time since the proposals were published to try to hammer out further compromises.
Mr Cameron held talks on Thursday at Downing Street with European Parliament President Martin Schulz, who said afterwards the negotiations were "not at the end of the process" but that he was "optimistic" of finding a compromise.Mr Cameron held talks on Thursday at Downing Street with European Parliament President Martin Schulz, who said afterwards the negotiations were "not at the end of the process" but that he was "optimistic" of finding a compromise.
The PM earlier met Mr Tusk, Slovak PM Robert Fico, Greek PM Alexis Tsipras, Swedish PM Stefan Lofven and Belgian PM Charles Michel on the margins of the Syria donors' conference in London.The PM earlier met Mr Tusk, Slovak PM Robert Fico, Greek PM Alexis Tsipras, Swedish PM Stefan Lofven and Belgian PM Charles Michel on the margins of the Syria donors' conference in London.
Countries on the EU's eastern flank, meanwhile, are to meet next week before providing a joint response to the reform package, Hungary's foreign minister said.Countries on the EU's eastern flank, meanwhile, are to meet next week before providing a joint response to the reform package, Hungary's foreign minister said.
Mr Cameron is also under pressure at home from some members of his own cabinet, who have been prevented from speaking out in favour of a British EU exit.Mr Cameron is also under pressure at home from some members of his own cabinet, who have been prevented from speaking out in favour of a British EU exit.
Culture Secretary John Whittingdale refused to rule out campaigning to leave the EU, in an interview with The House magazine, saying he would look at the agreement the prime minister managed to secure.Culture Secretary John Whittingdale refused to rule out campaigning to leave the EU, in an interview with The House magazine, saying he would look at the agreement the prime minister managed to secure.
Further reading on the UK's EU referendumFurther reading on the UK's EU referendum
Referendum timeline: What will happen when?Referendum timeline: What will happen when?
Guide: All you need to know about the referendumGuide: All you need to know about the referendum
The view from Europe: What's in it for the others?The view from Europe: What's in it for the others?
More: BBC News EU referendum specialMore: BBC News EU referendum special