Cameron: Britain doesn't duck fights

London - Prime Minister David Cameron on Wednesday said he aims to secure "the best of both worlds" for Britain in his negotiations with EU partners, by continuing to "do things our way" within a reformed European Union.

"Believe me, I have no romantic attachment to the European Union and its institutions," Cameron said in closing speech at his Conservative Party's annual conference.

"I'm only interested in two things: Britain's prosperity and Britain's influence," he said.

"That's why I'm going to fight hard in this renegotiation - so we can get a better deal and the best of both worlds," Cameron said.

Cameron has promised to hold an in-out referendum on Britain's EU membership by the end of 2017.

He opened a second round of negotiations with other EU leaders last month, highlighting the four areas where Britain is seeking reform: competitiveness, sovereignty, social security and economic governance.

EU reform is expected to be a key topic when he hosts German Chancellor Angela Merkel for talks on Friday.

On Wednesday, Cameron said Britain was a nation that does not "duck fights".

"We get stuck in. We fix problems," he said.

"That's how we kept our border checkpoints when others decided to take theirs down," Cameron said.

"It's how we kept the pound when others went headfirst into the euro," he said. "Because we do things our way."