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Merkel to meet Cameron with Germany in a spin over his EU demands Merkel to meet Cameron with Germany in a spin over his EU demands
(35 minutes later)
Berlin’s rather bombastic cuboid chancellery building, with its round glass front, is known in the vernacular as the Washing Machine, so it’s a rather appropriate place for Angela Merkel to be meeting the man who has put Europe – and not least Germany – into a spin with his demands.Berlin’s rather bombastic cuboid chancellery building, with its round glass front, is known in the vernacular as the Washing Machine, so it’s a rather appropriate place for Angela Merkel to be meeting the man who has put Europe – and not least Germany – into a spin with his demands.
Having greeted David Cameron on the red carpet with a military guard of honour outside Berlin’s chancellery on Friday, she has two aims in mind: to keep Britain in the European Union while appearing not to concede to his demands. If a Brexit were to happen on her watch she would consider it one of the failures of her tenure as German chancellor, her advisers have cautiously admitted.Having greeted David Cameron on the red carpet with a military guard of honour outside Berlin’s chancellery on Friday, she has two aims in mind: to keep Britain in the European Union while appearing not to concede to his demands. If a Brexit were to happen on her watch she would consider it one of the failures of her tenure as German chancellor, her advisers have cautiously admitted.
Having Berlin as the last stop on his “roadshow for a new EU” – as a Die Welt headline referred, somewhat tongue-in-cheek, to Cameron’s European trip – could be seen as something of a boost for the pro-EU camp and puts a positive spin on the freshly-elected leader’s charm offensive. He is welcome here in the most powerful EU member and, says Stefanie Bolzen in a commentary for Die Welt, the world’s most powerful woman “is an unconditional apologist for keeping the Kingdom in the Union, despite all the infuriation surrounding Cameron’s manoeuvring”. Having Berlin as the last stop on his “roadshow for a new EU” – as a Die Welt headline referred, somewhat tongue-in-cheek, to Cameron’s European trip – could be seen as something of a boost for the pro-EU camp and puts a positive spin on the freshly elected leader’s charm offensive. He is welcome here in the most powerful EU country and, says Stefanie Bolzen in a commentary for Die Welt, the world’s most powerful woman “is an unconditional apologist for keeping the kingdom in the union, despite all the infuriation surrounding Cameron’s manoeuvring”.
Despite the frustrations over what the German government sees as Cameron’s rather overly confident approach, and the distinct impression that he is “spoiling for a fight”, as Bolzen puts it, in a country more used to consensus than confrontation, there are few in Berlin who want to see Britain leave.Despite the frustrations over what the German government sees as Cameron’s rather overly confident approach, and the distinct impression that he is “spoiling for a fight”, as Bolzen puts it, in a country more used to consensus than confrontation, there are few in Berlin who want to see Britain leave.
“It’s indisputable that there’s no European land that, thanks to its history and its language, is so intertwined with the rest of the world. It is one of the UN’s five veto nations, it has … the hardest hitting army in Europe. And with its credo to keep the state small and its belief in the power of the individual, it is – certainly for Berlin – a reliable counterweight to the French.”“It’s indisputable that there’s no European land that, thanks to its history and its language, is so intertwined with the rest of the world. It is one of the UN’s five veto nations, it has … the hardest hitting army in Europe. And with its credo to keep the state small and its belief in the power of the individual, it is – certainly for Berlin – a reliable counterweight to the French.”
Despite all the warm words Merkel and Cameron will say about each other following their lunchtime encounter, the Rhein Zeitung from Koblenz warns Cameron in an editorial that he is going to be “taught a lesson” in Berlin.Despite all the warm words Merkel and Cameron will say about each other following their lunchtime encounter, the Rhein Zeitung from Koblenz warns Cameron in an editorial that he is going to be “taught a lesson” in Berlin.
“The EU will not and cannot allow its basic freedoms to be sacrificed on any old domestic political altar. Neither the freedom of movement nor the human rights or the employee protection laws are negotiable. The openness of the market needs to be subject to controls, controls that Cameron wishes to be renegotiated,” says the paper. “But he will find himself talking to a brick wall.”“The EU will not and cannot allow its basic freedoms to be sacrificed on any old domestic political altar. Neither the freedom of movement nor the human rights or the employee protection laws are negotiable. The openness of the market needs to be subject to controls, controls that Cameron wishes to be renegotiated,” says the paper. “But he will find himself talking to a brick wall.”
The Süddeutsche Zeitung is optimistic about the fact that the question in the EU referendum – “Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union?” – will demand a negative response from anyone who wishes Britain to leave the EU, and that yes campaigns often have more of a chance of success.The Süddeutsche Zeitung is optimistic about the fact that the question in the EU referendum – “Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union?” – will demand a negative response from anyone who wishes Britain to leave the EU, and that yes campaigns often have more of a chance of success.
But Axel Schäfer, the deputy leader of the SPD in the Bundestag, warned Britain to hurry up with the referendum. “The quicker the better,” he told DPA. “The impasse which would result if a referendum is not held until the end of 2017 would be bad for the country and for the EU.” Merkel will likely insist on the same.But Axel Schäfer, the deputy leader of the SPD in the Bundestag, warned Britain to hurry up with the referendum. “The quicker the better,” he told DPA. “The impasse which would result if a referendum is not held until the end of 2017 would be bad for the country and for the EU.” Merkel will likely insist on the same.
German business leaders too have warned that a referendum should happen sooner rather than later, and that 400,000 British jobs that are dependent on trade with Germany could be at risk if Britain leaves. Growing numbers of German companies in Britain have said they are plotting their departure in the case of a Brexit.German business leaders too have warned that a referendum should happen sooner rather than later, and that 400,000 British jobs that are dependent on trade with Germany could be at risk if Britain leaves. Growing numbers of German companies in Britain have said they are plotting their departure in the case of a Brexit.