Cameron outlines goals for EU membership reform

David Cameron has outlined his four goals for reforming the UK's membership of the EU, including restrictions on benefits for people coming to the UK.

He said Britain faced a "huge decision" in the in/out referendum promised before the end of 2017.

But he said he was confident of getting what he wanted from reform talks.

Anti-EU campaigners say the talks are a "gimmick" - and the European Commission said the UK's benefits proposals could break free movement laws.

Cameron has formally set out his demands in a letter to the president of the European Council, saying four objectives lie at the heart of the UK's renegotiations. These are the protection of the single market for Britain and other non-euro countries, boosting competitiveness by setting a target for the reduction of the "burden" of red tape, exempting Britain from "ever-closer union" and bolstering national parliaments and restricting EU migrants' access to in-work benefits such as tax credits

Cameron hit back at claims by former Tory chancellor Lord Lawson that the four goals were "disappointingly unambitious", saying they reflected what the British people wanted and would be "good for Britain and good for the European Union".

"It is mission possible and it is going to take a lot of hard work to get there," said the prime minister.

European Trade Union Confederation reacts

The freedom of movement of workers and equal pay for equal work are fundamental rights and European principles which cannot be negotiated away said the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).

Responding to Cameron's long-awaited EU reform demands, Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the ETUC warned "European trade unions  will call on their Governments and the European institutions to refuse to open negotiations on any change that would undermine freedom of movement of workers, and equal pay for equal work."

"Trade unions cannot accept discrimination against workers from other member states. Not in the UK, not anywhere in the EU."

"We cannot accept treaty or legislative change, or opt outs, in these fundamental rights. The EU cannot allow David Cameron to weaken the rights of workers across the EU, and we will work hard to ensure he does not."