Roundup: Cameron hosts Juncker in countryside residence after discussing EU

British Prime Minister David Cameron on Monday met visiting European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to discuss possible European Union (EU) reforms and issues concerning Britain's relationship with the EU.

Cameron hosted Juncker at Chequers, the prime minister's alternative official residence in the countryside of Buckinghamshire.

Their talks focused on reforming the EU and renegotiating Britain's relationship with it, a Downing Street spokesperson said in a statement following the meeting.

"The Prime Minister underlined that the British people are not happy with the status quo and believe that the EU needs to change in order to better address their concerns," the spokesperson said.

"Mr Juncker reiterated that he wanted to find a fair deal for the UK and would seek to help. They talked through the issue at some length in the spirit of finding solutions to these problems. They agreed that more discussion would be needed, including with other leaders, on the best way forward," the statement added.

They also discussed the Greek economic situation and the ongoing talks in the eurozone; the situation in Ukraine and relations with Russia including the extension of sanctions later this year.

"The Prime Minister gave Mr Juncker a tour of the country house and the gardens before they dined on a spring salad, followed by pork belly and vegetables and a dessert of lime bavarois," the statement concluded in a rare revelation of the leaders' dining menu.

Cameron has pledged to hold an "in or out" referendum on whether Britain should withdraw from the EU by 2017.

Earlier on Monday, Downing Street confirmed that most EU citizens living in Britain would not be allowed to vote in the referendum, setting a voting eligibility requirement similar to that of a UK general election.

Underage teenagers, including the 16 and 17-year-olds who are allowed to vote in the Scottish Independence Referendum last year, are also believed to be excluded from the vote.

However, UK-based Irish nationals and citizens from Commonwealth nations, including Europe's Malta and Cyprus, will be eligible to vote.

Details for the voting eligibility will be outlined in a Referendum Bill to be introduced to the British Parliament on Thursday, a day after Queen Elizabeth II reads the legislative plan in her speech at the State Opening of Parliament.

Later the week, Cameron is set to visit Denmark, Poland, the Netherlands, France and Germany to seek support for his EU reform agenda from European leaders. Endit