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UK staying in EU is in Germany's national interest, says Merkel UK staying in EU is in Germany's national interest, says Merkel
(35 minutes later)
Angela Merkel has said it is in Germany’s “national interest” that the UK remain in the European Union. Angela Merkel has said it is in Germany’s national interest for the UK to remain in the European Union, while the Czech Republic says it will not agree to a deal between Britain and Brussels that would “harm [its] citizens”.
Shortly before a summit in Brussels, where David Cameron’s reform proposals will be thrashed out, the chancellor gave a speech in the Bundestag in which she appealed for more sympathy and understanding for the British position. Shortly before a summit in Brussels where David Cameron’s reform proposals will be thrashed out, the German chancellor appealed for more sympathy and understanding for the British position.
She told German delegates the British prime minister’s demands were “comprehensible and justified”. Keeping Britain in the EU, the chancellor told the German parliament, was “not just in Britain’s, but also in Germany’s interest and that of the Europe as a whole”. She told German delegates that the British prime minister’s demands were “comprehensible and justified”. Keeping Britain in the EU, the chancellor told the German parliament, was “not just in Britain’s but also in Germany’s interest, and that of Europe as a whole”.
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She said she shared Cameron’s view that non-eurozone countries should not be sidelined, and that member states should be able to protect their own benefit systems. “There is no point of dissent between the UK and Germany as far as social systems are concerned,” Merkel said. She said she shared Cameron’s view that non-eurozone countries should not be sidelined and that member states should be able to protect their benefits systems. “There is no point of dissent between the UK and Germany as far as social systems are concerned,” Merkel said.
At the same time, the chancellor said it was vital that Britain’s reformed position in the EU did not mean that it could stop the European Union from “acting independently”. “Our experience of the European household debt crisis has shown us how quickly steps towards further integration can be required, and I remind you that no long-term solutions have been found for the problems that become visible during the crisis,” she added. However, disagreements with other countries remain. Speaking after a meeting of his government on Wednesday, Bohuslav Sobotka, the prime minister of the Czech Republic, said he was willing to work towards an EU deal for Britain but not at the expense of his country’s citizens.
Sobotka said the limit on benefits for workers that Britain is requesting should not be applicable to those who are already working in Britain, only for workers arriving in the future.
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Merkel said it was vital that Britain’s reformed position in the EU did not mean that it could stop the bloc from acting independently.
Merkel said: “Our experience of the European household debt crisis has shown us how quickly steps towards further integration can be required, and I remind you that no long-term solutions have been found for the problems that become visible during the crisis.”
The principles of freedom of movement and non-discrimination were “not open for discussion”, the chancellor said. What was important was that further integration remained “a possibility, but not an obligation”.The principles of freedom of movement and non-discrimination were “not open for discussion”, the chancellor said. What was important was that further integration remained “a possibility, but not an obligation”.
“In the end, the British voters will decide,” Merkel said, adding that all the German government could do was to provide the British government with the best possible arguments for staying in. Merkel added that all the German government could do was provide the British government with the best possible arguments for staying in the bloc. “In the end, the British voters will decide,” she said.