Cameron sought to remedy that on Tuesday with the letter to Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, which effectively kicked off formal negotiations around EU reform.
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In the letter, he said he hoped to to get an agreement at the “earliest possible opportunity” but the “priority is to get the substance right”.
Admitting that a few people would accuse him of seeking too little, Mr Cameron insisted he was asking for what Britain “needs” and that the package had been “carefully designed”.
The most hard aspect of the negotiation is likely to be over the demand for changes to the rules regarding social welfare payments to migrants.
Soon after his speech, there were indications that the government could be preparing to compromise on the demand for a four-year benefits residency qualification.
The European Commission has called Cameron’s proposal to deny them benefits for the first four years of their residency “high problematic”.
“If one has the spirit that we can solve these problems then I’m convinced it can be done”, she said.
Many are puzzled by the view that “ever closer union” is more than a bland phrase about shared values and rewriting the preamble to the EU’s basic treaty, or another British opt-out, could strain patience.
Speaking during a visit to HMS Bulwark in Valletta harbour, he said: “I think people can see that Britain is absolutely determined to get these changes for the good of Britain but also for the good of Europe”.
“If and when we do so…”
Cameron said that the changes would give Britain the best of both worlds protecting national autonomy while ensuring access to the 28-nation European Union and its 500 million plus market seen as a huge opportunity for Britain. “I rule nothing out”.
At the beginning of the year, the chances of Britain leaving the European Union seemed slim, but polls now show the gap narrowing, with marginal differences between the “remain” and “leave” sides.
The exception is immigration: here the prime minister must persuade voters the concessions would reduce the number of people coming to Britain. But, in practice, it’s already clear that members of the euro may continue down this path while those countries which continue to use their own currency – such as Switzerland or Denmark as well as the United Kingdom – will not be obliged to follow them. “But we should do so with our eyes open”.
“The renegotiation is happening right now”.
“It makes economic sense to leave as the European Union will soon disintegrate and break apart – as it looks to hold Spain, Greece and Italy together”.
In his speech, Mr. Cameron told British voters that their decision would be crucial and the final say on the issue – a “once-in-a-generation choice”.
The European Commission says such restrictions would run counter to one of the EU’s key principles – the freedom of movement. He also called for a reduction in regulatory red tape as a way of improving economic competitiveness.
Cameron said if countries outside the single currency were “pushed aside and overruled, then it would no longer be a club for us”.
He also said British taxpayers should “never be financially liable” for supporting the euro.
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Mujtaba Rahman, an analyst with Eurasia Group, said Cameron was publishing the letter now in part because he wanted to have produced something tangible ahead of a summit in December with European Union leaders. He highlighted the abolition of mobile phone data roaming charges.
