EU referendum: Europe's leaders must take prospect of 'Brexit' seriously, warns Donald Tusk

European Council president says EU leaders are 'far from an agreement' over David Cameron's renegotiation demands

European Council President Donald Tusk has said that ‘serious debate’ was needed on key issues (Getty Images)

Europe’s leaders are “far from an agreement” over British renegotiation demands and have to face up to David Cameron’s call for curbs on EU migrants claiming benefits in the UK, the European Council’s president has said ahead of crunch talks.

In an apparent warning to take seriously the prospect of “Brexit”, Donald Tusk told them that the stakes would be high when they meet tomorrow to discuss Britain’s future in the EU.

Mr Tusk’s intervention was significant as he will lead negotiations over Mr Cameron’s demands at the Brussels summit. It followed polls which suggested public support for leaving the EU is growing.

The major sticking-point is the Prime Minister’s proposal for a four-year ban on EU nationals qualifying for in-work benefits such as tax credits. Other European capitals argue that his demand would be discriminatory and would violate the principle of freedom of movement across the bloc.

In a letter to the leaders, Mr Tusk said: “We are still far from an agreement on several topics. This Thursday we will need to focus especially on the most controversial ones. The stakes are so high that we cannot escape a serious debate with no taboos.” Downing Street welcomed his comments and called the talks an “important milestone” in Mr Cameron’s drive to repatriate powers from the EU.

A senior minister told The Independent: “I don’t think enough European politicians are taking seriously enough the fact that Britain could actually leave the European Union. Some still think it’s only a few nutters who want to get out.” Ahead of the summit, Mr Cameron spoke to Mr Tusk, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka and Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commission President.

An ICM poll for the Vote Leave campaign found 42 per cent of people would vote to remain a member while 41 per cent would vote to leave.

A Survation poll, commissioned by the Alliance for Direct Democracy in Europe, a European political grouping including Ukip, found 42 per cent wanted to leave the EU and 40 per cent wanted to remain.

The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, who will visit Brussels tomorrow for a meeting of the Party of European Socialists, accused Mr Cameron of botching the negotiations.

“He has tried to bludgeon leaders into accepting his flawed reforms and failed,” Mr Corbyn said. “Labour supports Britain’s continued membership of the EU. We want an EU that supports working people in Britain and promotes prosperity, jobs and growth. To fully achieve that aim we believe the EU will need a programme of progressive reform.”