This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-32925350
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
German firms warn UK over EU referendum | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Germany's Chambers of Commerce and Industry has warned that a UK exit from the European Union (EU) would be "disastrous" for Britain and Germany. | |
Volker Treier, deputy chief executive of the organisation, told the BBC that German business is "astonished" that the UK is planning a referendum over its EU membership. | Volker Treier, deputy chief executive of the organisation, told the BBC that German business is "astonished" that the UK is planning a referendum over its EU membership. |
Prime Minister David Cameron is due to meet Angela Merkel in Berlin on Friday. | Prime Minister David Cameron is due to meet Angela Merkel in Berlin on Friday. |
Mr Treier said the German Chancellor should not offer concessions. | Mr Treier said the German Chancellor should not offer concessions. |
He is concerned that if the UK receives concessions then other nations might also demand negotiations over their terms of membership. | He is concerned that if the UK receives concessions then other nations might also demand negotiations over their terms of membership. |
"We are really astonished about this referendum," he said. | "We are really astonished about this referendum," he said. |
The organisation estimates that German companies employ nearly 400,000 people in the UK. | |
Mr Treier said many of those companies were unsettled by the planned referendum. | Mr Treier said many of those companies were unsettled by the planned referendum. |
If the UK were to leave the EU, he warned that a significant number of German firms would contemplate reducing their investment in Britain. |
Previous version
1
Next version