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| David Cameron and Angela Merkel set for EU talks | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The economy and EU reforms are expected to be the focus of talks between David Cameron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Downing Street. | |
| Security issues are also likely to figure prominently following the deadly attacks on the French magazine Charlie Hebdo earlier on Wednesday. | |
| No 10 said the UK's aims for a reformed EU were also likely to be raised. | |
| The PM earlier accompanied Mrs Merkel to an exhibition on the history of Germany at the British Museum. | |
| Both Mr Cameron and Mrs Merkel have condemned the shooting in Paris, in which 12 people - including journalists and police officers - were killed and offered their condolences to the French people. | |
| The two are expected to speak about the attack and its repercussions at a press conference later. | |
| The five-hour visit, one of a number Mrs Merkel is making to world leaders as part of Germany's year-long presidency of the G7 group of nations, is likely to be her last to the UK before May's general election. | |
| If he remains in power after the election, Mr Cameron has pledged to re-negotiate the UK's membership of the 28-member bloc and hold a referendum by 2017 on the UK's future participation in the EU. | If he remains in power after the election, Mr Cameron has pledged to re-negotiate the UK's membership of the 28-member bloc and hold a referendum by 2017 on the UK's future participation in the EU. |
| The Conservatives have called for a far-reaching shake-up of welfare and employment rules across the EU, including requiring migrants to have a job offer before coming to the UK, making them wait four years before they can receive certain benefits and ending the payment of child benefit to dependents of EU migrants overseas. | The Conservatives have called for a far-reaching shake-up of welfare and employment rules across the EU, including requiring migrants to have a job offer before coming to the UK, making them wait four years before they can receive certain benefits and ending the payment of child benefit to dependents of EU migrants overseas. |
| 'Avoiding misunderstanding' | 'Avoiding misunderstanding' |
| Mr Cameron has said the proposals will, in some cases, require changes to existing treaties and therefore require the support of all 28 members - most of whom have said they are fundamentally opposed to anything will infringing the principle of the freedom of movement across the EU. | Mr Cameron has said the proposals will, in some cases, require changes to existing treaties and therefore require the support of all 28 members - most of whom have said they are fundamentally opposed to anything will infringing the principle of the freedom of movement across the EU. |
| In a joint statement, the two leaders said their talks would focus on tackling instability in the global economy and securing long-term growth, including the prospect of a trade deal between the EU and US. | In a joint statement, the two leaders said their talks would focus on tackling instability in the global economy and securing long-term growth, including the prospect of a trade deal between the EU and US. |
| "We must do more to make the EU more stable and competitive than it is today," they said. "We must do more to harness the potential of the single market and reduce regulation that is hampering business." | "We must do more to make the EU more stable and competitive than it is today," they said. "We must do more to harness the potential of the single market and reduce regulation that is hampering business." |
| The BBC's assistant political editor Norman Smith said both sides were playing down the prospect of any progress on Mr Cameron's specific re-negotiation demands on Wednesday. | The BBC's assistant political editor Norman Smith said both sides were playing down the prospect of any progress on Mr Cameron's specific re-negotiation demands on Wednesday. |
| Former Conservative Chancellor Ken Clarke said there would no discussion of the "minutiae" of Britain's membership, telling BBC Radio 5 Live the two leaders "will not waste their time on these" at a time of serious economic challenges across Europe. | Former Conservative Chancellor Ken Clarke said there would no discussion of the "minutiae" of Britain's membership, telling BBC Radio 5 Live the two leaders "will not waste their time on these" at a time of serious economic challenges across Europe. |
| Leading Tory Eurosceptic John Redwood said that while the focus would rightly be on problems in the eurozone and the situation in Ukraine, he did expect some discussion of immigration and welfare issues. | Leading Tory Eurosceptic John Redwood said that while the focus would rightly be on problems in the eurozone and the situation in Ukraine, he did expect some discussion of immigration and welfare issues. |
| Analysis by political correspondent Ben Wright | Analysis by political correspondent Ben Wright |
| It's a question few voters fret about but it looms over today's talks between David Cameron and Angela Merkel. | It's a question few voters fret about but it looms over today's talks between David Cameron and Angela Merkel. |
| The prime minister has said many times he wants Britain to have a renegotiated relationship with the EU embedded in a new Treaty. That deal would then be put to British voters in a referendum before the end of 2017 - if the Conservatives win the coming general election. | The prime minister has said many times he wants Britain to have a renegotiated relationship with the EU embedded in a new Treaty. That deal would then be put to British voters in a referendum before the end of 2017 - if the Conservatives win the coming general election. |
| But while Germany backs David Cameron on several areas of EU reform - such as limiting the benefits migrants can claim and completing the single market - Berlin does not want a major rewrite of existing treaties now. | But while Germany backs David Cameron on several areas of EU reform - such as limiting the benefits migrants can claim and completing the single market - Berlin does not want a major rewrite of existing treaties now. |
| It would mean referendums in countries like France and Ireland which may be very hard to win at a time when public confidence in the EU project is fragile. | It would mean referendums in countries like France and Ireland which may be very hard to win at a time when public confidence in the EU project is fragile. |
| Some of Mr Cameron's most Eurosceptic backbenchers say a serious, meaningful renegotiation can only be achieved through a new Treaty. Others, like those in the Fresh Start group of Tory MPs, have suggested a reform package they say can be achieved within the existing Treaties. | Some of Mr Cameron's most Eurosceptic backbenchers say a serious, meaningful renegotiation can only be achieved through a new Treaty. Others, like those in the Fresh Start group of Tory MPs, have suggested a reform package they say can be achieved within the existing Treaties. |
| Berlin is rather miffed David Cameron is already talking about the need for a new Treaty before his proposal has been put on the negotiating table. Either way, the prime minister's plans hinge on having the support of Europe's most powerful leader - which is why his talks with Chancellor Merkel matter. | Berlin is rather miffed David Cameron is already talking about the need for a new Treaty before his proposal has been put on the negotiating table. Either way, the prime minister's plans hinge on having the support of Europe's most powerful leader - which is why his talks with Chancellor Merkel matter. |
| David McAllister, a member of Mrs Merkel's governing CDU party, said Mr Cameron and Mrs Merkel shared the same views on a wide range of issues central to the EU's future, including growth, competitiveness, financial stability and free trade. | David McAllister, a member of Mrs Merkel's governing CDU party, said Mr Cameron and Mrs Merkel shared the same views on a wide range of issues central to the EU's future, including growth, competitiveness, financial stability and free trade. |
| "There is a lot of common ground between Germany and Britain when it comes to the EU and I think we will find a reasonable and decent solution for the British proposals but let's see what actually happens in 2015," he told Today. | "There is a lot of common ground between Germany and Britain when it comes to the EU and I think we will find a reasonable and decent solution for the British proposals but let's see what actually happens in 2015," he told Today. |
| Labour has complained the Foreign Office did not inform it of Mrs Merkel's visit, although the party stressed leader Ed Miliband had discussed European issues and Labour's EU agenda with the German leader when she last visited the UK in February 2014. | Labour has complained the Foreign Office did not inform it of Mrs Merkel's visit, although the party stressed leader Ed Miliband had discussed European issues and Labour's EU agenda with the German leader when she last visited the UK in February 2014. |
| "The Foreign Office usually contacts the Leader of the Opposition's office in advance of visits from heads of government and state. Unfortunately on this occasion they failed to do so," a Labour spokesman said. | "The Foreign Office usually contacts the Leader of the Opposition's office in advance of visits from heads of government and state. Unfortunately on this occasion they failed to do so," a Labour spokesman said. |
| It is understood that Mrs Merkel did not ask to meet Mr Miliband during her visit to the UK. | It is understood that Mrs Merkel did not ask to meet Mr Miliband during her visit to the UK. |
| Labour, which supports fresh curbs on benefits for migrants but does not support a referendum unless additional powers are handed to Brussels, said there was an "unbridgeable gap" between what Tory MPs wanted and what Germany would accept. | Labour, which supports fresh curbs on benefits for migrants but does not support a referendum unless additional powers are handed to Brussels, said there was an "unbridgeable gap" between what Tory MPs wanted and what Germany would accept. |