1ST LEAD «No consensus» in EU on British welfare demands, top official says By Helen Maguire, dpa

Brussels (dpa) - A British demand to restrict the access of EU citizens to welfare benefits is proving a difficult sell among member states, EU President Donald Tusk said Monday, spelling trouble for London‘s efforts to renegotiate its relations with the bloc.British Prime Minister David Cameron has promised to hold an in-out referendum on his country‘s membership of the European Union by 2017, but before that he wants to cut a deal to safeguard his country‘s interests in the 28-member bloc.Cameron has outlined four areas in which he seeks change: the relationship between members of the euro currency and "euro-outs" such as Britain; competitiveness and trade; British sovereignty; and access to British social benefits for other EU citizens.The last of these issues is "the most delicate," Tusk wrote to EU leaders on Monday, referring to "substantial political differences" on the issue, which is to be debated at the next EU summit on December 17-18."There is presently no consensus on the request that people coming to Britain from the EU must live there and contribute for four years before they qualify for in-work benefits or social housing," Tusk noted.Despite Tusk‘s warning, Cameron said the letter was "encouraging" in the face of Britain‘s "tough" demands."It‘s tough what I‘m asking for," he told the BBC when asked about the letter.Under EU rules, citizens of the bloc have the right to work in any member state, and must not be treated differently from nationals of their destination country.Britain wants to restrict that right, amid populist concerns that foreigners are saturating the job market. The issue has been one of the main arguments fuelling anti-EU sentiment in the country.Tusk called on all parties to show "readiness to compromise," warning that uncertainty about the future of Britain‘s role in the bloc is a "destabilizing factor" at a time when Europe needs to be united and strong to deal with the challenges it is facing.Regarding Cameron‘s other demands, Tusk said it should be possible to safeguard the interests of non-euro members. He mentioned the option of establishing a mechanism to hear countries‘ concerns, "without this turning into a veto right."The EU president said that member states were fully behind Britain‘s call for more competitiveness and focus on trade as an important tool to boost economic growth.Britain also wants to disassociate itself from the EU‘s stated goal of "ever closer union," but Tusk said the concept allows for "various paths of integration for different countries." He expressed confidence that Britain would retain its "constructive and important role" in the EU.Last week, Cameron said he did not expect Britain‘s renegotiation demands to be settled at the upcoming EU summit, which is the first opportunity for leaders to discuss his proposal in full.The bloc should be able to adopt a final response in February, Tusk said.The UK Independence Party, which is running a campaign for Britain to leave the EU, said Tusk had "called Cameron‘s bluff.""Britain has been told we will get no substantial change on welfare benefits for EU migrants," said Paul Nuttall, UKIP‘s deputy leader, who also heads the party‘s group of members of the European Parliament."Cameron must now follow through on his threat to campaign to leave the EU as he has not received even the minor changes that he asked for," Nuttall said.