PM: EU Reforms Require 'Patience And Tenacity'

David Cameron has warned that successfully reforming the EU may take some time as the President of the European Parliament told Sky News that changes might be possible.

Martin Schulz, one of the most powerful figures in European politics, made the comments as David Cameron met European leaders to try to gather support for changes to the bloc.

Mr Schulz said he would support Britain's proposals if they make the EU more "democratic" and "transparent".

The UK's Prime Minister was in Riga, Latvia, to hold talks on reform "in earnest" with the other leaders.

Mr Cameron used the summit as the launch pad for a European tour to seek the backing for changes he wants to see.

He told a news conference that Britain benefits from being part of the EU.

But, he said: "We need to address the concerns of the British people. They are not happy with the status quo and, frankly, neither am I.

"There's the concern that we are being driven towards an ever-closer union. That may be what some others want, but it is not for us.

"There's the unnecessary and burdensome EU rules that hold some of our businesses back. And there's the concern - that I fully share - about the huge increase in people migrating to the UK from Europe and the fear that we can do nothing to address this.

"I don't expect to find agreed solutions straight away. These talks will require patience and tenacity.

"There will a lot of ups and downs along the way. But by working together, with the right spirit, I believe we can reform the EU and our relationship with it."

British officials believe Mr Cameron's return to No 10 with a clear mandate for re-negotiation will force EU leaders to face up to the need to finally address the issue seriously.

The Government is expected to outline the timetable for the referendum in the Queen's Speech on Wednesday.

Mr Schulz, who met Mr Cameron at the summit, said: "I think that whatever the list of proposals would be, David Cameron, the Government, should take into account that we are together stronger.

"If this is a strategy of split - split between the Eurozone and the non-Euro countries, between the UK and their partners - this is the wrong way.

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"If it is to make the European Union more democratic, more transparent, I share the view. I ran as a candidate for the Commission's president... with exactly the same steps. More transparency, more effectiveness.

"Not everything, in my head, has to be done in Brussels. I agree entirely this is feasible, also without a treaty change."

Mr Cameron is expected to visit Paris, Berlin and other key capitals next week as part of his bid to convince other leaders of the need for reform.

He is also meeting EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker at Chequers for talks on Monday.

Finnish prime minister Alexander Stubb expressed confidence that a deal can be found, saying Finland is very much in favour of Mr Cameron's pro-reform agenda.

Estonian prime minister Taavi Roivas, meanwhile, said he was "open to discussion" but warned that he would oppose any attempt to roll back the free movement of labour within the EU.

Mr Cameron met briefly with Polish prime minister Ewa Kopacz, Hungary's Viktor Orban and Sweden's Stefan Lovfen and was expected to hold talks with Latvia's Laimdota Straujuma and the European Council President Donald Tusk.

The summit in Riga comes as new figures showed a net increase in migration to the UK was driven by 268,000 EU citizens coming to live in Britain in 2014 - the highest number on record.