London--British Prime Minister David Cameron was to host European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Monday as he kickstarts diplomatic efforts to secure European Union reforms ahead of a referendum on the country's membership.
The meeting comes after the government said that most European Union citizens who are resident in Britain will not be able to vote in the referendum.
A source in Cameron's office said it was important that British, Irish and Commonwealth citizens "are the ones who get to decide" in the crucial vote.
Cameron and Juncker will hold a "working dinner" at the prime minister's country retreat Chequers ahead of Cameron's meetings with German leader Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande later in the week.
Despite Cameron's attempts to block his appointment as president, Juncker said he was "ready to work" with the prime minister, who was re-elected earlier this month, "to strike a fair deal with the UK".
Cameron promised British voters an in-out EU referendum by 2017 as part of his successful campaign to win a second term in office.
The British leader is meeting European leaders to try and secure reforms on issues such as immigration, welfare eligibility and 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
