The Conservatives' promise to hold an in/out referendum by 2017 was a key plank of their manifesto in the general election last week. The party's top brass, including Prime Minister David Cameron, have suggested they would only support continued EU membership if the country can change terms related to its membership.
"We go into these negotiations aiming to be constructive and engaged but also resolute and firm, and no one should underestimate our determination to succeed for the working people of Britain and indeed for the working people of the European Union," finance chief George Osborne said today ahead of a meeting of his peers from the 28-country EU in Brussels.
He said the aim is to "improve Britain's relationship with the rest of the EU and to reform the EU so it creates jobs and increases living standards for all its citizens."
Though details of what the Conservatives want are sketchy, the party noted in its manifesto that it's looking to control migration from the EU by reforming welfare rules.
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Many top officials across the EU, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, have insisted that the principle of the free movement of labor across the bloc is non-negotiable.
However, some have been more forthcoming on the idea of changing the way welfare payments are made to migrants.
Though the referendum pledge was not discussed at today's meeting, early indications are that Osborne isn't going to find it easy to push through reforms, especially if they are so big that they require changes to the EU's treaty.