– ‘Chicken’ –
Cameron had been expected to attend a gathering of presidents from each of the European Parliament’s groupings in Brussels on Tuesday, but instead will only hold bilateral meetings.
The anti-EU UK Independence Party accused Cameron of being a “chicken” after he pulled out of a meeting that would have included its leader Nigel Farage.
Tusk will also meet with Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka and Greek counterpart Alexis Tsipras in Prague and Athens as part of his own whirlwind diplomatic push ahead of the summit.
Whatever deal the premier strikes is unlikely to satisfy all factions in Britain, including some within his own Conservative Party.
Facing pressure from ministers who want to reject the deal and declare their support for leaving the EU, Cameron could announce the date of the referendum on Friday if a deal is agreed, British newspaper the Daily Telegraph reported.
A eurosceptic rally is due to be held in London on Friday evening.
Even if the bloc’s leaders agree the changes Cameron wants, the European Parliament must still approve them.
British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond warned Sunday the EU will “lurch very much in the wrong direction” if Britain leaves, predicting negotiations at this week’s summit “would go to the wire”.
Underlining the potential ramifications of a British exit from the EU, London-headquartered HSBC hinted that the global lender could shift its operations to Paris if voters choose to leave.
“We are lucky in the sense that we have a major bank in France,” bank chairman Douglas Flint told BBC radio.
“So, if we were to leave and if there were to be restrictions, ultimately on the renegotiation of Britain’s position, we have the ability to move activity and people between London and Paris,” he said.
