David Cameron issued a stark warning to European counterparts that Brussels is "too big, too bossy, too interfering" as he made clear his opposition to the front runner in line to take the union's top job.
The Prime Minister warned fellow leaders they cannot "shrug off" the results of the euro elections and over dinner will demand they are more ruthless about the European Union's priorities.
Discussions will focus on setting out the process for finding a replacement for European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso when his term ends in October, but Mr Cameron signalled he is deeply opposed to current front runner Jean-Claude Juncker, an EU veteran with federalist ambitions.
In a thinly-veiled swipe, the premier stressed the importance of securing a candidate focused on openness and flexibility instead of being bound up in the union's past. We need a europe of trade and co-operation, but not one of federalist desires.
Arriving for the talks, the Prime Minister told reporters: "Europe cannot shrug off theses results. We need an approach that recognises that Europe should concentrate on what matters, on growth and jobs and not try and do so much.
"We need an approach that recognises that Brussels has got too big, too bossy, too interfering. We need more for nation states. It should be nation states wherever possible and Europe only where necessary.
"Of course we need people running these organisations that really understand that and can build a Europe that is about openness, competitiveness and flexibility, not about the past."
Ukip leader Nigel Farage earlier claimed there was " nobody more fanatical about building the United States of Europe" than Mr Juncker and insisted his candidacy has come "just at the moment that the European electors have made it clear they are going in the wrong direction".
Tonight's gathering of 28 leaders will also focus on the political earthquake which saw Ukip top the polls in Britain, the far-right Front National come first in France and the extreme-left Syriza movement take top spot in Greece.
The Eurosceptic Five Star movement came second in Italy and the anti-euro Alternatives won seven seats in Germany.
Before travelling to the meeting Mr Cameron made a series of phone calls to counterparts across the union, including German chancellor Angela Merkel, French president Francois Hollande, Polish PM Donald Tusk, Lithuanian president Dalia Grybauskaite, Hungarian PM Viktor Orban, Swedish PM Fredrik Reinfeldt, Slovenian PM Alenka Bratusek and Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny, as he attempted to rally support for reform.
The PM has promised to renegotiate Britain's relationship with Europe then give voters an in/out referendum on membership in 2017.
New Forest EU Results
In the New Forest the major results were UKIP 18817, Conservatives 17606, Green 4146, Labour 4040, and Lib Dem 3516.
The collapse of the Lib Dem vote in the local area is simply astonishing and is much to do with the rise of the Green Party. Although the Conservative Party did come second we are pleased with this result. The Party has only lost 4% of our previous vote, which at a time when the Conservative Party are in government and having to take unpopular decisions, is a simply extraordinary. Combined, the Eurosceptic Conservative/UKIP vote achieved 72% of the total ballots cast in he New Forest. This is a clear message that Britain wants to see reform of the European Union, and if necessary, our withdrawal. Please click here for the declaration of the full results in the New Forest.
Click the above screenshot to be taken to a video for full EU election results & analysis