Cameron and Polish PM don't see 'eye-to-eye' on EU welfare reform

Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo has said she did not see “eye-to-eye” with David Cameron over his call for benefit curbs on EU migrants.

Cameron failed to win the support of Szydlo on key elements of his renegotiation plan during talks in Warsaw ahead of the EU council meeting this month.

Szydlo said she agreed on Cameron’s push to keep Britain inside the EU but was against the proposed changes to block Polish citizens out of the UK benefit system for four years.

She is also worried about the UK‘s recommendation to end the practice of sending child benefit overseas. Sydlo added that Cameron's welfare proposals undermined the principle of free movement.

"Allowing people the freedom to make decisions on free movement, where they want to live, where they want to work because these are the main pillars of the EU and the reason why the EU was established," she told a press conference in Warsaw.

Szydlo said there would be further talks in January to reach an agreement.

Cameron told reporters that Poland had agreed to work together with Britain to find a solution to address the difficult issue of “excessive migration” and welfare.

"We don't yet have agreement, it is going to take time, but I do feel we have the goodwill to reach an agreement that will be of benefit to the British people."

A referendum on whether to keep Britain inside the EU will be held before the end of 2017.