British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Thursday 7 January discussions on reforming the European Union were going well and he is confident that issues including competitiveness and migration can be dealt with successfully.

Britain does have real issues with way that the European Union works today and my negotiation is about making sure that we are in Europe for cooperation and to work together, Cameron told reporters after meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Bavaria late on Wednesday 6 January.

He continued: My negotiation is about making sure that Europe is adding to the competitiveness of countries like Britain and indeed Germany, rather than holding back our competitiveness. Making sure there are fair rules for both countries that are inside the euro zone and countries like Britain that wont join the euro zone.

We believe that all these issues can be dealt with. The discussions are going well. Theyre hard, theyre tough. These are difficult issues. But Im confident with goodwill – and there is goodwill I think on all sides – we can bring these negotiations to a conclusion and then hold the referendum, he added.

An ORB opinion poll published earlier on 7 January, showed a majority of Britons who have made up their minds would vote to leave the European Union, making Britain by far the most Eurosceptic country in the 28-member bloc.