PRIME Minister David Cameron says he is confident of securing reforms in Brussels, indicating he remains open to staging a referendum on Britain's EU membership next year.

Mr Cameron admitted he was "not met with a wall of love" as he greeted European counterparts for the first time since the General Election and conceded that securing a deal will take patience and tenacity.

A number of North-East companies, including Nissan, Hitachi Rail Europe, and steelmaker SSI, have all previously raised fears over an EU all-out exit, saying it would have a devastating impact on jobs and investment.

At a summit in Latvia, Mr Cameron once again refused to rule out campaigning for Britain to leave the EU if his renegotiation efforts fail, adding it would be good if the popular vote could be staged earlier than his 2017 deadline.

Asked whether he could campaign for the UK to leave the EU, the Prime Minister said: "I'm confident.

"I've set out a series of changes, which I think address the main concerns the British people have and that I have about Europe and the way it works, and I'm confident of getting those changes.

"I've tried to aim at things that are deliverable and do-able rather than things that are impossible.

"But I've always said that if I don't get what I think I need, I rule nothing out."

Mr Cameron admitted his presence at the summit had been met with a less than enthusiastic reception in some quarters.

He added: "I'm not going to say I was met with a wall of love when I arrived but there were lots of people who were very excited about our election result and congratulated me and we all said how much we are looking forward to working together.

"I do not expect to find agreed solutions straight away.

"These talks will require patience and tenacity.

"But by working together in the right spirit and sticking at it, I believe we can reform the EU and our relationship with it.

"Then the British people will have the final say. They will decide."

Other North-East businesses to come against an EU exit include car parts makers ElringKlinger(GB), in Redcar, and Nifco UK, in Eaglescliffe, near Stockton.

Ian Malcolm, ElringKlinger managing director, said: "The benefits of staying in the EU completely outweigh the drawbacks.

"What we need to do is redefine the club rules."

Mike Matthews, Nifco UK managing director, added: "Europe is currently our biggest market, so for Nifco and of course many other companies like us, it would be business suicide to leave in the current climate."