EU referendum: David Cameron 'has good chance of securing deal soon'

The head of the European Commission’s British referendum task force suggested that many of the UK demands could be resolved without treaty change

A deal could be struck by David Cameron by next month (Getty)

There is a “very good prospect” that David Cameron will be able to secure a comprehensive EU renegotiation deal “rather soon”, the head of the European Commission’s British referendum task force has suggested.

In an upbeat assessment Jonathan Faull, one of the most senior British diplomats working in Brussels who is leading negotiations on behalf of the Commission, said he believed there was the “political will” to resolve the issue and hinted that a deal could be struck by next month.

He also suggested that many of the British demands could be resolved without treaty change. “There are many issues which, in our view, can be settled without violating the current treaties and without requiring any amendment to them,” Mr Faull told a committee of MEPs in Brussels, adding that some of the issues could be resolved by a “simple declarative statement” from EU leaders.

Asked about the prospects of a deal at next month’s European Council meeting Mr Faull said: “From what I can see the political will to resolve this issue is pretty strong.”