Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images UK’s EU deal: The view from the capitals EU governments react to David Cameron’s demands for EU reform.

The draft deal on the terms of Britain’s membership in the bloc is on EU leaders' desks — and now the hard work really begins. If first impressions are anything to go by, David Cameron faces an uphill battle to convince his EU counterparts at a summit on February 18 to back his plans. A ban on in-work benefits for EU migrants has been the most contentious part of the deal from the beginning. It still is.

POLITICO looked around the national capitals to get their reaction to the draft deal, sent out by European Council President Donald Tusk on Tuesday. Here's what they said:

Poland

"Discrimination" is how Poland's Europe minister, Konrad Szymański, described a planned four-year ban on in-work benefits for EU citizens. “The U.K.’s first three demands are acceptable,” he said. “The fourth one is the problem.”

“We can’t accept discrimination but then how does Cameron offer something for people who are against migration? We understand British concerns. They have the right to shape their labor market. The issue is discrimination.” However, he said he was worried that the U.K. leaving the EU would lead to the collapse of the bloc.

Lithuania

The country’s foreign minister, Linas Antanas Linkevičius, said Tusk's proposal was “positive,” but had a warning about the migration proposal: “If it smells of discrimination then definitely it’s not good.”

“It’s important to not to have discrimination,” he said. “We have seen that there have been some attempts.” Linkevičius said he was encouraged by a provision that the deal could be changed in the next EU treaty. “There’s some space for maneuver and compromise,” he said. “All in all, there are assumptions for positive assessments.”

France

Ensuring that the U.K. and other non-euro countries don’t have veto power on eurozone decisions has been the top priority for France. But since the draft ensures that won’t happen, the French are focused on making sure that the scales don't tip in the favor of non-eurozone countries.

"If you say that there are two sets of financial rules in the European Union, it will cut the EU in two parts, one will have more advantage than the other — if there’s an advantage from one to the other, capital will transfer to the other,” a French government source said. “We have make sure there’s not an unwanted movement of financial flows.”

The text on “ever closer union” is also slightly troubling for the French. The official called it “very long” and “very un-European,” but added that it’s not impossible to find a solution to both issues.

Ireland

Dublin wants its neighbor to stay in the EU at almost any cost. A spokesperson said the government “welcomes” Tuesday's draft, and sees itself as a facilitator to securing a deal. “It is very clearly in the interest of Ireland, the U.K. itself, and of the European Union that the U.K. decide to remain an active member of our Union,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “Contributing to that outcome is the government’s overall objective in these negotiations.”

Finland

Prime Minister Juha Sipilä told the daily Helsingin Sanomat that the country “can live with the concessions” given to the U.K. He said he was optimistic that the compromise on benefits for EU citizens would be acceptable to the Finnish public.

Denmark

Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen sent out a positive note on Cameron's proposals, tweeting: “Letter from Tusk on U.K. in EU good basis for negotiations. Look forward to discussions with Cameron in Copenhagen this Friday.” Cameron cancelled a planned trip to Denmark and Sweden last week so he could meet with Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

Czech Republic

Europe Minister Tomáš Prouza said he would be “worried” if Cameron got his way and every EU migrant who arrives in Britain at any time over the next seven years would need to wait four years to receive government benefits. The timings of the ban are yet to be decided, and will be fought over at the February summit.

In a tweet, Prouza said: “Safeguard mechanism is acceptable, crucial debate will be on how long will free movement be reduced.”

He called the competitiveness package “good news” and on economic governance he was optimistic about his country, which like the U.K. is outside the eurozone, having the ability to take part in eurozone decision making.

Germany

Berlin is gearing up for its role as “compromise broker” in the discussions. “We want to be as helpful as possible,” said a representative for the country in Brussels, echoing the words of German Chancellor Angela Merkel. “We want to keep Britain in the EU. Whatever is useful for the British and is compatible with the treaties, we are very open. There aren’t that many German workers in the U.K., it’s more about convincing the Polish to go along with it.”

Luxembourg

The tiny country won't get in the way of an agreement if there is one. “That's not our way of doing things,” said a government representative in Brussels. “We want to preserve as much as possible the single market, and all other European rules that benefit all member states. There are things we are cautious about. If you have an emergency brake then it has to apply to all of the member states."

Bulgaria

The Eastern European country is not satisfied with what’s been presented. “We’re not going to compromise basic rights on European free movement,” said a government source. “But we’re going to see what’s on offer during the negotiations.”

Malta

Equality for all EU countries is a top priority for the Maltese. “It fundamentally comes down to the fact that principles and treaties should not be undermined,” a Maltese official said. “We want what applies to the EU, applies to everyone equally.”