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| Merkel will be 'constructive partner' to UK in EU debate | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Angela Merkel has said Germany will work "constructively" with the UK as it seeks to renegotiate its EU membership. | |
| Speaking after talks with David Cameron, the German leader said she was "clear" the UK should stay in the EU. | |
| While there was already "common ground" across many areas, she accepted negotiations over issues like welfare reforms would be "more protracted". | |
| Mr Cameron said there was no "magic" solution to reform but "where there's a will there's a way". | |
| The PM, who is on a whistle-stop tour of Europe trying to gather support for changes he wants before holding the UK's EU membership referendum, also repeated his call for Fifa boss Sepp Blatter to stand down as soon as possible. | |
| 'Guiding principle' | |
| Speaking at a press conference after their talk in Berlin, Mrs Merkel said the two leaders had begun to talk about "specific issues" of future reform after Mr Cameron's election victory. | |
| She told journalists that Germany and other EU countries had "red lines" - such as upholding the principle of freedom of movement - but that she hoped as far as possible to accommodate the UK's demands. | |
| "Where there is a desire there is a way," she said. "That should be our guiding principle." | |
| Mr Cameron repeated his belief that the changes could only be achieved through treaty change, a move opposed by some European countries, including France, but he said what mattered was the "substance" of the reforms not the method by which they would be achieved. | |
| "This is about starting the process," he said of the talks. "Of course it is going to be difficult but the important thing is to get it underway." | |
| Mr Cameron was greeted upon his arrival in Berlin by Mrs Merkel and the two leaders listened to a military band playing their countries' national anthems. | Mr Cameron was greeted upon his arrival in Berlin by Mrs Merkel and the two leaders listened to a military band playing their countries' national anthems. |
| The UK prime minister, who has already concluded a brief visit to Poland, has not set out in full detail the reforms he is pushing for but they will include tougher rules to prevent migrants claiming benefits. | The UK prime minister, who has already concluded a brief visit to Poland, has not set out in full detail the reforms he is pushing for but they will include tougher rules to prevent migrants claiming benefits. |
| He also wants safeguards to protect the City of London in the event of closer eurozone integration and an exemption for Britain from the EU drive for "ever closer union". | He also wants safeguards to protect the City of London in the event of closer eurozone integration and an exemption for Britain from the EU drive for "ever closer union". |
| Mr Cameron believes changes to the treaties governing the EU will be needed to get the reforms the UK wants but this has so far been resisted by other European leaders. | Mr Cameron believes changes to the treaties governing the EU will be needed to get the reforms the UK wants but this has so far been resisted by other European leaders. |
| Securing the backing of Ms Merkel, who leads Europe's largest economy, will be crucial to his chances of negotiation success. | Securing the backing of Ms Merkel, who leads Europe's largest economy, will be crucial to his chances of negotiation success. |
| She has previously said she wanted the UK in a "strong and successful Europe" while stressing the importance of the free movement principle, which has allowed large numbers of economic migrants from poorer EU states to move to countries like the UK and Germany in search of work. | She has previously said she wanted the UK in a "strong and successful Europe" while stressing the importance of the free movement principle, which has allowed large numbers of economic migrants from poorer EU states to move to countries like the UK and Germany in search of work. |
| After Mr Cameron's breakfast meeting with Polish Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz, Downing Street said the UK and Poland agreed on the need for more powers for national parliaments and for countries outside the eurozone to be treated fairly in the event of closer integration within the single currency bloc. | After Mr Cameron's breakfast meeting with Polish Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz, Downing Street said the UK and Poland agreed on the need for more powers for national parliaments and for countries outside the eurozone to be treated fairly in the event of closer integration within the single currency bloc. |
| "On immigration and welfare, Prime Minister Kopacz welcomed the prime minister's commitment to respect the principle of free movement," a No 10 spokesman added. | "On immigration and welfare, Prime Minister Kopacz welcomed the prime minister's commitment to respect the principle of free movement," a No 10 spokesman added. |
| "They agreed that there were issues concerning the interaction between free movement and national welfare systems that should be discussed further." | "They agreed that there were issues concerning the interaction between free movement and national welfare systems that should be discussed further." |
| Speaking ahead of the visit Rafal Trzaskowski, Poland's Minister for European Affairs, told the BBC they would listen but that any treaty change would be very difficult. | Speaking ahead of the visit Rafal Trzaskowski, Poland's Minister for European Affairs, told the BBC they would listen but that any treaty change would be very difficult. |
| "The European Union needs Great Britain, the discussion will not be easy," he said. | "The European Union needs Great Britain, the discussion will not be easy," he said. |
| "As far as treaty changes are concerned or the introduction of discriminatory measures, that would be a red line for Poland." | "As far as treaty changes are concerned or the introduction of discriminatory measures, that would be a red line for Poland." |
| He added: "If every country comes with a shopping list to change European Union policies, that will be the end of the European construction, it will simply implode." | He added: "If every country comes with a shopping list to change European Union policies, that will be the end of the European construction, it will simply implode." |
| BBC Europe editor Katya Adler said Mr Cameron's four-country tour - taking in the Netherlands and France on Thursday, followed by Poland and Germany on Friday - was "carefully thought-out". | BBC Europe editor Katya Adler said Mr Cameron's four-country tour - taking in the Netherlands and France on Thursday, followed by Poland and Germany on Friday - was "carefully thought-out". |
| The Netherlands and Germany were seen as "open to reforming the single market", she said, while France was "trickier" and Poland seen as a "rising star". | The Netherlands and Germany were seen as "open to reforming the single market", she said, while France was "trickier" and Poland seen as a "rising star". |
| Ahead of formal negotiations "tone is as important as content", she said, adding: "As he travels around Europe he will find an appetite for reform - but David Cameron's trickiest trick will be to persuade leaders that his way is the right way." | Ahead of formal negotiations "tone is as important as content", she said, adding: "As he travels around Europe he will find an appetite for reform - but David Cameron's trickiest trick will be to persuade leaders that his way is the right way." |
| Mr Cameron's tour coincided with the publication of his government's EU Referendum Bill, which contains details of the question and the commitment to staging the vote by the end of 2017. | Mr Cameron's tour coincided with the publication of his government's EU Referendum Bill, which contains details of the question and the commitment to staging the vote by the end of 2017. |
| Downing Street wants voters to be asked the question: "Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union?" | Downing Street wants voters to be asked the question: "Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union?" |
| The Electoral Commission suggested this form of words - which would make those campaigning to stay in the EU the Yes campaign - in 2013. | The Electoral Commission suggested this form of words - which would make those campaigning to stay in the EU the Yes campaign - in 2013. |
| Labour is backing the bill, meaning it is likely to speed through the House of Commons. | Labour is backing the bill, meaning it is likely to speed through the House of Commons. |
| EU referendum in focus | EU referendum in focus |
| David Cameron is starting renegotiation of the terms of Britain's EU membership ahead of a referendum. Here is some further reading on what it all means: | David Cameron is starting renegotiation of the terms of Britain's EU membership ahead of a referendum. Here is some further reading on what it all means: |
| The UK and the EU: Better off in or out? | The UK and the EU: Better off in or out? |
| What Britain wants from Europe | What Britain wants from Europe |
| Q&A: The UK's planned EU referendum | Q&A: The UK's planned EU referendum |
| Timeline: EU referendum debate | Timeline: EU referendum debate |
| Why Germany is David Cameron's new best friend | Why Germany is David Cameron's new best friend |