The EU foreign ministers opened a crucial meeting in Brussels on Monday to discuss a deal with Britain over the country’s continued membership in the European Union as well as the refugee crisis.

Meanwhile, Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, said on Monday that he hopes the EU can reach a deal with Britain over the terms of London’s continued membership in the bloc.

Tusk was speaking ahead of an upcoming EU summit in Brussels where leaders of member states will discuss the deal with the UK.

London and Brussels have already ironed out much of their differences but certain thorny issues, especially the refugee crisis, remain unresolved.

Later on Monday, the British Prime Minister David Cameron will meet French President Francois Hollande to discuss Britain's EU renegotiation issue.

British officials hope a deal can be nailed down at an EU summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday.

In London, Cameron's spokeswoman said: "We have made progress (on renegotiation) but there's details to be pinned down.”

Cameron has already emphasized that he is reasonably confident of an accord ahead of a referendum planned in mid-2016 on a possible “Brexit”.

London has demanded reforms in several areas, the most controversial being a four-year ban on top-up benefits for EU nationals working in Britain.

There is less opposition to other demands which got backing from some countries during Cameron’s recent trip to European nations. During his visit to Germany earlier this month, Cameron argued that London's proposals would benefit the bloc and the UK both.

But critics say the issue related to EU migrants is discriminatory and threatens freedom of movement in the EU.