Cameron in Brussels closes in on EU benefits deal

British Prime Minister David Cameron made a final push yesterday in Brussels to seal a deal on curbing welfare benefits for migrants in a bid to prevent Britain becoming the first country to leave the EU.

Cameron met European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker to discuss a "migration brake" that would meet his key demand -- a four-year limit before EU workers in Britain can claim welfare payments.

As he headed to the talks aimed at finalising a deal before a crucial summit on February 18 and a referendum expected in June, Cameron warned that the EU's counter offers were "not yet strong enough" but still promising.

"It's encouraging that people like the European Commission are coming forward with new ideas but there's still a long way to go before we see something that we can actually agree," Cameron told the BBC.

The negotiations to prevent a so-called "Brexit" from the 28-nation EU come amid a series of crises for the bloc including the biggest influx of migrants and refugees to Europe since World War II.

An agreement would pave the way for EU President Donald Tusk to make formal proposals on Monday, officials told AFP, in time to reach agreement with the other EU leaders at next month's summit.

If Cameron gets a deal at the summit he is then expected to hold an in-out referendum in June on Britain's four-decade old membership of the EU, with his own position as prime minister likely hanging on the outcome.

Cameron has set out four key areas for a deal: migrant benefits, safeguards against more political integration in the EU, protection of countries that do not use the euro currency and the boosting of economic competitiveness.