DAVID Cameron will take his European Union reform bid to Spain and Portugal today his week as he seeks to build support for a new settlement.

A renegotiated relationship will be put to British voters by the end of 2017 and formal talks have begun at an official level in Brussels.

Some of the North-East's biggest employers, including SSI, Hitachi and Nissan have warned, however, that they would re-think their investment plans if Britain withdrew from the EU - putting more than 10,000 jobs at risk.

Asked if it was vital for the success of the North-East economy that Britain remained a full EU member, The Prime Minister told The Northern Echo:“Hitachi and Nissan have both warned, however, that they would re-think their plans if Britain withdrew from the EU, which is why we are trying to renegotiate the terms that have irked the British people.

"We want to make sure it is a genuine common market we are involved in and I think British companies understand this. We benefit from being in Europe. I hope that business will feel free to speak out on these important matters as they see fit."

Cutting the numbers of EU nationals migrating to the UK is one of the PM's four priorities for the renegotiation - with the focus on tightening welfare provisions to reduce the "pull factors" making the UK a preferred destination.

Others are strengthening the single market, opting out of the move towards ever closer union and protecting the interests of member states outside the eurozone, including the UK.