The Prime Minister wrote to European Council President Donald Tusk last month outlining four areas where he wanted progress if he is to recommend Britain stays in the EU.
They included issues surrounding competitiveness, an opt-out from ever closer union, protections for non-eurozone nations, and measures to stop “abuse” of Britain’s welfare system by EU migrants.
The Prime Minister was pressing for a deal to be reached at this month’s EU summit.
But Mr Cameron, in a conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, said that the scale of the UK’s demands meant he does not expect to reach an agreement at the summit on 17/18 December.
“The Prime Minister explained that his priority is to get the substance right, underlining the need for legally binding, irreversible changes,” a Number 10 spokesperson said.
“He noted that the scale of what we are asking for means we will not resolve this in one go and consequently he did not expect to get agreement at the December European Council.
“Instead, we should keep up the pace of discussions and use the summit for a substantive discussion of the proposed changes in each area. Chancellor Merkel agreed with this approach, emphasising her commitment to finding solutions that will address the concerns of the British people.”
The Prime Minister will now be targeting the next meeting of the European Council in February to secure a deal with his EU counterparts.
The delay in striking a deal with fellow EU leaders is likely to push back the referendum date, with the Prime Minister being required to provide four months' notice ahead of the public vote.
The news comes after Mr Tusk today warned the Conservative leader that he will not get legally binding treaty change in time for the UK’s EU referendum.
The European Council president told Mr Cameron that there is a “growing risk of failure” if he tries to secure a deal this month without being clear on the specific changes he wants.
Mr Cameron has pledged to hold an EU referendum before the end of 2017, with rumours emerging that a public vote could be held next summer.
MIGRANT BENEFITS
The Conservative manifesto stated that the Tories wanted to block EU citizens’ access to in-work welfare like tax credits until they have been in the country for four years.
Last month Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said the demand will prove to be “the most difficult issue” during the renegotiation process.
He said countries in so-called “new” Europe have a “political challenge” to back the proposals when their countries “are providing the largest number of migrants into the UK”.
This article was originally published by PoliticsHome.