David Cameron accused of making 'fictional' manifesto pledge on EU treaty change after Brussels' Juncker rules out negotiations

The European Commission president says there will be 'no treaty change proposals' while he is in charge

European Union handout photo of Jean-Claude Juncker receiving Prime Minister David Cameron at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium. (PA)

Brussels has ruled out any changes to the EU treaty until after November 2019 – making it more likely that Britain will leave the bloc before then.

David Cameron has pledged a referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU in 2017, but planned to argue in favour of staying on the grounds that rules could be renegotiated.

But those hopes are now in doubt, after officials close to European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said there will be no negotiations while he is in charge.

Sources told The Times newspaper: “No treaty change proposals are envisaged until after November 2019, the end of Mr Juncker’s mandate as president of the commission.”

In the Tory manifesto released this week, Mr Cameron promised “real change in our relationship with the EU”.

Mr Juncker’s stance therefore comes as a blow – in particular after the Tories pledged: “After the election, we will negotiate a new settlement for Britain in Europe.”

It is not the first time Mr Cameron and Mr Juncker have clashed and, in the event that the Conservatives win the election and keep their promise to “hold an in-out referendum before the end of 2017”, the lack of a prospect for renegotiation has the potential to persuade more people to vote “out”.

Nigel Farage, whose Ukip manifesto hinges largely on savings made in the event of Britain’s exit from the EU, accused Mr Cameron of publishing a “work of fiction” manifesto on the basis that treaty change is “not on offer”.

He said: “I challenge David Cameron to tell the British people this simple truth rather than dupe, delude and deceive them.”

Philip Hammond, the Foreign Secretary, downplayed the comments from Brussels as “nothing new”.

He told The Times: “It was said there would be no changes after the Lisbon Treaty, but that was proved wrong. These latest claims will be proved wrong too.

“Commission President Juncker himself has said that answering the ‘British question’ is one of his key priorities.”