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Merkel vents anger at Cameron's withdrawal threats over Juncker Merkel vents anger at Cameron's withdrawal threats over Juncker
(about 4 hours later)
Angela Merkel has issued a rare public rebuke to David Cameron, after the British prime minister reportedly told an EU summit in Brussels last week that the UK could leave the EU if Jean-Claude Juncker is appointed president of the European commission. Angela Merkel has issued a rare public rebuke to David Cameron after the British prime minister reportedly told an European Union summit in Brussels last week that the UK could leave the EU if Jean-Claude Juncker was appointed president of the European commission.
In a sign of the German chancellor's deep irritation with Cameron over his hardline opposition to Juncker, Merkel said that issuing threats was not part of the European spirit. Merkel spoke out after a meeting of centre-right EU leaders, hosted by the Swedish prime minister, Fredrik Reinfeldt, at his summer retreat in Harpsund. In a sign of the German chancellor's deep irritation with Cameron over his hardline opposition to Juncker, she said that issuing threats was not part of the European spirit. Merkel spoke out after a meeting of centre-right EU leaders, hosted by Swedish prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt at his summer retreat in Harpsund.
The three leaders, together with the Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, reached agreement on the need for the European council – the body comprising the 28 EU leaders – to work with the European parliament on speeding up reform on areas including freedom of movement and liberalisation of digital services.The three leaders, together with the Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, reached agreement on the need for the European council – the body comprising the 28 EU leaders – to work with the European parliament on speeding up reform on areas including freedom of movement and liberalisation of digital services.
But Cameron found himself isolated as Merkel said that Juncker was still her preferred candidate for EC president. Rutte and Reinfeldt called for a wideranging EU reform programme to be decided before candidates are agreed or blocked. But Cameron found himself isolated as Merkel said that Juncker was still her preferred candidate. Rutte and Reinfeldt called for a wide-ranging EU reform programme to be decided before choices about candidates are made.
The German chancellor, who faced a domestic backlash after initially appearing to raise questions about Juncker after the European elections, threw her weight behind the former Luxembourg prime minister and criticised Cameron for issuing threats. Merkel, who faced a domestic backlash after initially appearing to raise questions about Juncker after the European elections, threw her weight behind the former Luxembourg prime minister. After the Harpsund talks concluded, she said: "I made myself clear by saying that I am for Jean-Claude Juncker. But when I made that statement in Germany, I also made the point that we act in a European spirit. We always do that because otherwise you would never reach a compromise.
Merkel said after the talks concluded in Harpsund: "I made myself clear by saying that I am for Jean-Claude Juncker. But when I made that statement in Germany I also made the point that we act in a European spirit. We always do that because otherwise you would never reach a compromise. "Thus we cannot just consign to the backburner the question of the European spirit. Threats are not part and parcel of that spirit. That is not part of the way in which we usually proceed."
"Thus we cannot just consign to the backburner the question of the European spirit. Threats are not part and parcel of that spirit. That is not part of the way in which we usually proceed." Merkel made her remarks after Cameron was asked whether he had issued threats to leave the EU. He came close to confirming that he had made clear in Brussels last week that the appointment of Juncker could act as a major boost to the anti-EU side in his planned in/out referendum in 2017.
Merkel made her remarks after Cameron was asked whether he had issued threats to leave the EU. The PM came close to confirming that he had made clear in Brussels last week that the appointment of Juncker could act as a major boost to the anti-EU side in his planned in-out referendum in 2017. Cameron said: "I have a very straightforward approach, which is that I want Britain to stay in a reformed EU. That is my goal. That is what I think is best for Britain and the best for Europe as well. The prime minister said: "I have a very straightforward approach, which is that I want Britain to stay in a reformed EU. That is my goal. That is what I think is best for Britain and the best for Europe as well.
"The decision about whether to stay in Europe will be for the British people in a referendum by the end of 2017. Obviously the approach that the EU takes between now and then will be very important. If we can achieve reforms, if we can demonstrate openness, competitiveness, flexibility, less interference, reform – if people are capable of taking the EU forward in that direction that will be helpful. "The decision about whether to stay in Europe will be for the British people in a referendum by the end of 2017. Obviously the approach that the EU takes between now and then will be very important. If we can achieve reforms, if we can demonstrate openness, competitiveness, flexibility, less interference, reform – if people are capable of taking the EU forward in that direction – that will be helpful.
"Obviously if the EU doesn't go in that direction that would be very unhelpful. I think it is very plain and very obvious." "Obviously if the EU doesn't go in that direction, that would be very unhelpful. I think it is very plain and very obvious."
British officials have not given up hope on blocking Juncker by building a "blocking minority" in the European council. Officials have hopes that Matteo Renzi, the new Italian prime minister, will agree to block Juncker. British officials believe that Merkel has private reservations about Juncker while other leaders, including Rutte and Reinfeldt, have severe doubts about the "spitzenkandidaten"(or lead candidate) system devised by officials in the European parliament to choose a new commission president. The parliament agreed to present lead candidates ahead of the elections on the grounds that the Lisbon treaty says that MEPs have to approve the new president. British officials have not given up hope on blocking Juncker by building a "blocking minority" in the European council. Downing Street was relaxed about Merkel's remarks which were aimed equally, according to No 10 sources, at the European parliament which is aggressively pressing the "lead candidate" system.
Juncker is the lead candidate for the main centre right EPP group in the European Parliament. The EPP's largest national contingent is Merkel's CDU party. UK officials have hopes that Matteo Renzi, the new Italian prime minister, will agree to block Juncker.
Cameron dismissed the spitzenkandidaten system and said that the European council should assert its rights in the Lisbon treaty to nominate a candidate. "On the question of the spitzenkandidat, obviously there were no such candidates in Britain," he said. "There is no legitimacy for that process in Britain. The European council has a job, as the elected heads of state and government, to come together and recommend candidates who are capable of carrying forward the reform programme that is necessary." British officials believe that Merkel has private reservations about Juncker while other leaders, including Rutte and Reinfeldt, have severe doubts about the "spitzenkandidaten"(or lead candidate) system devised by officials in the European parliament to choose a new commission president. The parliament agreed to present lead candidates before the elections on the grounds that the Lisbon treaty says that MEPs have to approve the new president.
Juncker is the lead candidate for the main centre-right EPP group in the European parliament, in which Merkel's CDU party is the largest national contingent.
Cameron dismissed the spitzenkandidaten system and said the European council should assert its rights in the Lisbon treaty to nominate a candidate. "On the question of the spitzenkandidat, obviously there were no such candidates in Britain," he said. "There is no legitimacy for that process in Britain. The European council has a job, as the elected heads of state and government, to come together and recommend candidates who are capable of carrying forward the reform programme that is necessary."
His criticism was echoed by Rutte. "I have always said the spitzenkandidaten is not an automaticity. I could very well envisage one of them becoming president of the commission but it is not an automaticity. I first want to discuss content and then discuss the people."His criticism was echoed by Rutte. "I have always said the spitzenkandidaten is not an automaticity. I could very well envisage one of them becoming president of the commission but it is not an automaticity. I first want to discuss content and then discuss the people."
There was much stronger support for Cameron as he seeks to introduce restrictions on freedom of movement in the EU to crack down on alleged benefit abuse. Rutte said: "In order to preserve free movement of labour we need a level playing field in the labour market. That means tackling abuses." There was much stronger support for Cameron as he seeks to introduce restrictions on freedom of movement in the EU to crack down on alleged benefit abuse. Rutte said: "In order to preserve free movement of labour, we need a level playing field in the labour market. That means tackling abuses."