David Cameron will today formally launch his bid to renegotiate Britain's EU membership, denying his critics' claims that it is "mission impossible".
In a speech in London before setting out his demands in a letter to EU chiefs in Brussels, he will claim that with political will and imagination he can succeed.
But his attempts to win reforms ahead of an in-out referendum on Britain's EU membership will come under attack almost immediately in the House of Commons.
After Europe Minister David Lidington makes a statement to MPs, euro-sceptic Tory backbenchers will claim Britain cannot get a better deal in Europe without changes to treaties.
Anticipating the criticism, the Prime Minister will say in his speech: "There will be those who say - here and elsewhere in the EU - that we are embarked on mission impossible. I say: why?
"I do not deny that seeking changes which require the agreement of 27 other democracies, all with their own concerns, is a big task.
"But an impossible one? I do not believe so for a minute."
Hardline Tory euro-sceptics and campaigners for a so-called "Brexit" from the EU claim some of Mr Cameron's objectives are feeble and meaningless and others stand no chance of success.
But he will say: "When you look at the challenges facing European leaders today, the changes that Britain is seeking do not fall in the box marked 'impossible'.
"They are eminently resolvable, with the requisite political will and political imagination."
As well as setting out his renegotiation goals in a speech, Mr Cameron will write to the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, who has asked him to spell out his aims in writing.
Then, between now and a summit of EU leaders in December, Mr Cameron will hold more talks with European leaders, starting at a migration summit in Malta the day after his speech, to try to persuade them to back him.
Source: Sky News
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