The leaders of Europe's two biggest economies met at Downing Street earlier today for crunch talks, mainly on the EU, which Britain is keen to reform.
Britain's David Cameron urged Germany's Angela Merkel to back his plans to claw powers back from Brussels as the only way to keep Britain in the EU.
Cameron has promised to hold a national referendum in 2017, if not earlier, on whether or not Britain should leave the EU, should the Tories stay in power at May's general election.
The Prime Minister used talks in London today to set out his demands for reform, including curbing benefits for migrants, which Germany supports.
Mr Cameron will go into the general election in May promising to stage a two-year renegotiation of Britain's membership of the EU, before staging the in-out referendum.
He insists he thinks his plan will succeed, and he will then recommend staying in the EU.
If he fails he admits he will 'rule nothing out', raising the prospect that he will recommend exit from the 28-nation bloc.
Many people are, however, skeptical that Britain will get the EU reforms it wants, therefore opening the door to a "Brixit" - Britain leaving the EU.
The two leaders toured an exhibition on German history at the British Museum before meeting in Downing Street to 'discuss key issues to advance our common agenda'.
The museum's Germany: Memories Of A Nation exhibition traces 600 years of the country's history, with exhibits including works of art and a Volkswagen Beetle.
They also called French leader Francois Hollande to offer their condolances after today's Islamist terror attack.
Despite having different views on certain issues, Germany is actually one of Britain's closest allies within the EU, with the two countries sharing a broadly similar outlook.
Cameron urges Merkel to back him on EU reform as he makes the case for curbing benefits for migrants
German Chancellor meets Prime Minister in Downing Street
Leaders also toured German exhibition at the British Museum in London
Cameron says he thinks renegotiation will succeed and will vote to stay in
But if talks with 28-nation bloc fail, he insists he will 'rule nothing out'
Sets out demands on immigration, welfare and blocking Brussels rules
By Matt Chorley, Political Editor for MailOnline
7 January 2015
Daily Mail
David Cameron today urged Germany's Angela Merkel to back his plans to claw powers back from Brussels as the only way to keep Britain in the EU.
The Prime Minister used talks in London today to set out his demands for reform, including curbing benefits for migrants, which Germany supports.
They toured an exhibition on German history at the British Museum before meeting in Downing Street to 'discuss key issues to advance our common agenda'.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel joined David Cameron for a tour of the British Museum before talks on reforming the European Union
Mrs Merkel has made clear she backs the idea of limiting access to benefits claimed by migrants moving around Europe
The exhibition - Germany: Memories Of A Nation - traces 600 years of the country's history, with exhibits including works of art and a Volkswagen Beetle. The British Museum is one of the world's largest museums and is the second-most-visited museum in the world after the Louvre
Mr Cameron will go into the general election in May promising to stage a two-year renegotiation of Britain's membership of the EU, before staging an in-out referendum.
He insists he thinks his plan will succeed, and he will then recommend staying in the EU.
If he fails he admits he will 'rule nothing out', raising the prospect that he will recommend exit from the 28-nation bloc.
However, Mrs Merkel has insisted that she will not support any moves to alter the fundamental principle of freedom of movement within the EU.
In a major speech last year Mr Cameron set out four key areas for reform:
Exempting Britain from the principle of 'ever-closer union'
Introducing a 'red card' rule to allow national governments to come together to block Brussels regulations
Protection of the single market, as eurozone countries integrate more
Major curbs on benefits claims for migrants, including blocking access to the dole for four years and ending child benefit being exported across Europe
Mrs Merkel has made clear she backs the idea of limiting access to benefits claimed by migrants moving around Europe.
In November the European Court of Justice ruled that jobless EU migrants cannot move around the continent living off state handouts – and have no right to move to another country if they cannot support themselves.
It ruled against a Romanian single mother who moved to Germany without a job, and made no effort to look for work, but demanded benefits designed for jobseekers.
Downing Street aides stressed that Britain is a key ally to Germany and that Cameron needs support in Berlin for his proposed reforms
The leaders of Europe's two largest economies greet each other outside No10. Mr Cameron has warned Mrs Merkel that if he fails to secure EU reform he will 'rule nothing out', raising the prospect that he will recommend exit from the 28-nation bloc
The leaders held talks in Downing Street, which were expected to focus on the G7 and EU reform but also covered the terror attack in Paris which left 12 people dead
BRITAIN'S KEY DEMANDS FOR WELFARE REFORM IN EUROPE
FOR WORKERS FROM THE EU:
No in-work benefits until they have been in Britain for four years
No social housing for four years
No child benefit or tax credits paid for children living outside the UK
FOR UNEMPLOYED EU MIGRANTS:
No support from the UK taxpayer
Deportation if they do not get a job within six months
Other measures include:
Impose restrictions on EU migrants bringing in family members from outside the EU
Longer bans on rough sleepers, beggars and fraudsters returning to the UK
Tougher rules on deporting foreign criminals
Refusing to allow other countries to join the EU without imposing controls on the movement of their workers until their economies have reached UK levels
Tensions between Mr Cameron and Mrs Merkel emerged last year when it was suggested he would demand a cap on the total number of EU migrants able to move to Britain.
Berlin made clear this would amount to an acceptable infringement of the principle of freedom of movement.
The idea was dropped from Mr Cameron's speech before he delivered it at the end of November, after opposition from Mrs Merkel.
A Downing Street source said: 'They have both been around a long time. They know each other well and see each other a lot. There is no doubt this is a strong relationship.
'Germany is a key ally for us, but we are a key ally for them as well in lots of issues in the EU.'
As part of today's trip, Mrs Merkel and Mr Cameron visited the British Museum to see a history of her country.
The museum's Germany: Memories Of A Nation exhibition traces 600 years of the country's history, with exhibits including works of art and a Volkswagen Beetle.
Ahead of their meeting, the Prime Minister and Chancellor Merkel issued a joint statement which said: 'We meet to discuss key issues to advance our common agenda, in particular with regard to the German G7 presidency.
'At the same time, we must do more to make the EU more stable and competitive than it is today. We have both taken steps at home to consolidate our public finances and it is important that we continue to pursue this long-term plan.
'We must do more to harness the potential of the single market and reduce regulation that is hampering business.
'We must also dismantle further barriers to trade, in particular by agreeing an EU-US trade deal in 2015, which was launched at the UK's G8 summit in Lough Erne.'
Downing Street said that the pair's talks would focus on the German presidency of the G7.
However Mr Cameron also reiterated his warning that if he fails to secure the reforms he could back Britain's exit.
His demands on welfare reform include banning EU nationals from claiming in-work benefits or social housing in Britain for four years, deporting jobless migrants if they do not get work for six months and refusing to allow other countries to join the EU without imposing controls on the movement of their workers until their economies have reached UK levels.
Mr Cameron said at the weekend: 'EU migrants should have a job offer before they come here. UK taxpayers will not support them if they don't.'
However, there are reports that the European Commission is preparing to block the move.
The Guardian said the commission is preparing to let Number 10 know that the proposal would be unworkable because it would be impossible to distinguish between EU jobseekers and tourists entering the UK.
Ukip leader Nigel Farage
Ahead of the visit, Ukip leader Nigel Farage said: 'Germany is facing its own problems at the moment and would not want Britain to start turning away EU jobseekers, potentially redirecting them to seek work there.
'If Chancellor Merkel agreed that UK can close the door on EU jobseekers she would also have to recognise that a great many that were Britain bound would instead seek work in Germany as the continent's biggest economy, and that is a risk she is likely to be unwilling to take.'
Labour's shadow Europe minister Pat McFadden said Chancellor Merkel would not be driven by 'the need to pander to the eurosceptics inside today's Conservative Party'.
He added: 'Even once her visit is over, the gap between what David Cameron's eurosceptic backbenchers are demanding and what European allies such as Germany will accept, remains unbridgeable.
'Europe does need to change, but the tragedy for Britain is that since being elected, David Cameron has spent more time negotiating with his backbenchers than with other EU leaders.'
Britain's David Cameron urged Germany's Angela Merkel to back his plans to claw powers back from Brussels as the only way to keep Britain in the EU.
Cameron has promised to hold a national referendum in 2017, if not earlier, on whether or not Britain should leave the EU, should the Tories stay in power at May's general election.
The Prime Minister used talks in London today to set out his demands for reform, including curbing benefits for migrants, which Germany supports.
Mr Cameron will go into the general election in May promising to stage a two-year renegotiation of Britain's membership of the EU, before staging the in-out referendum.
He insists he thinks his plan will succeed, and he will then recommend staying in the EU.
If he fails he admits he will 'rule nothing out', raising the prospect that he will recommend exit from the 28-nation bloc.
Many people are, however, skeptical that Britain will get the EU reforms it wants, therefore opening the door to a "Brixit" - Britain leaving the EU.
The two leaders toured an exhibition on German history at the British Museum before meeting in Downing Street to 'discuss key issues to advance our common agenda'.
The museum's Germany: Memories Of A Nation exhibition traces 600 years of the country's history, with exhibits including works of art and a Volkswagen Beetle.
They also called French leader Francois Hollande to offer their condolances after today's Islamist terror attack.
Despite having different views on certain issues, Germany is actually one of Britain's closest allies within the EU, with the two countries sharing a broadly similar outlook.
Cameron urges Merkel to back him on EU reform as he makes the case for curbing benefits for migrants
German Chancellor meets Prime Minister in Downing Street
Leaders also toured German exhibition at the British Museum in London
Cameron says he thinks renegotiation will succeed and will vote to stay in
But if talks with 28-nation bloc fail, he insists he will 'rule nothing out'
Sets out demands on immigration, welfare and blocking Brussels rules
By Matt Chorley, Political Editor for MailOnline
7 January 2015
Daily Mail
David Cameron today urged Germany's Angela Merkel to back his plans to claw powers back from Brussels as the only way to keep Britain in the EU.
The Prime Minister used talks in London today to set out his demands for reform, including curbing benefits for migrants, which Germany supports.
They toured an exhibition on German history at the British Museum before meeting in Downing Street to 'discuss key issues to advance our common agenda'.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel joined David Cameron for a tour of the British Museum before talks on reforming the European Union
Mrs Merkel has made clear she backs the idea of limiting access to benefits claimed by migrants moving around Europe
The exhibition - Germany: Memories Of A Nation - traces 600 years of the country's history, with exhibits including works of art and a Volkswagen Beetle. The British Museum is one of the world's largest museums and is the second-most-visited museum in the world after the Louvre
Mr Cameron will go into the general election in May promising to stage a two-year renegotiation of Britain's membership of the EU, before staging an in-out referendum.
He insists he thinks his plan will succeed, and he will then recommend staying in the EU.
If he fails he admits he will 'rule nothing out', raising the prospect that he will recommend exit from the 28-nation bloc.
However, Mrs Merkel has insisted that she will not support any moves to alter the fundamental principle of freedom of movement within the EU.
In a major speech last year Mr Cameron set out four key areas for reform:
Exempting Britain from the principle of 'ever-closer union'
Introducing a 'red card' rule to allow national governments to come together to block Brussels regulations
Protection of the single market, as eurozone countries integrate more
Major curbs on benefits claims for migrants, including blocking access to the dole for four years and ending child benefit being exported across Europe
Mrs Merkel has made clear she backs the idea of limiting access to benefits claimed by migrants moving around Europe.
In November the European Court of Justice ruled that jobless EU migrants cannot move around the continent living off state handouts – and have no right to move to another country if they cannot support themselves.
It ruled against a Romanian single mother who moved to Germany without a job, and made no effort to look for work, but demanded benefits designed for jobseekers.
Downing Street aides stressed that Britain is a key ally to Germany and that Cameron needs support in Berlin for his proposed reforms
The leaders of Europe's two largest economies greet each other outside No10. Mr Cameron has warned Mrs Merkel that if he fails to secure EU reform he will 'rule nothing out', raising the prospect that he will recommend exit from the 28-nation bloc
The leaders held talks in Downing Street, which were expected to focus on the G7 and EU reform but also covered the terror attack in Paris which left 12 people dead
BRITAIN'S KEY DEMANDS FOR WELFARE REFORM IN EUROPE
FOR WORKERS FROM THE EU:
No in-work benefits until they have been in Britain for four years
No social housing for four years
No child benefit or tax credits paid for children living outside the UK
FOR UNEMPLOYED EU MIGRANTS:
No support from the UK taxpayer
Deportation if they do not get a job within six months
Other measures include:
Impose restrictions on EU migrants bringing in family members from outside the EU
Longer bans on rough sleepers, beggars and fraudsters returning to the UK
Tougher rules on deporting foreign criminals
Refusing to allow other countries to join the EU without imposing controls on the movement of their workers until their economies have reached UK levels
Tensions between Mr Cameron and Mrs Merkel emerged last year when it was suggested he would demand a cap on the total number of EU migrants able to move to Britain.
Berlin made clear this would amount to an acceptable infringement of the principle of freedom of movement.
The idea was dropped from Mr Cameron's speech before he delivered it at the end of November, after opposition from Mrs Merkel.
A Downing Street source said: 'They have both been around a long time. They know each other well and see each other a lot. There is no doubt this is a strong relationship.
'Germany is a key ally for us, but we are a key ally for them as well in lots of issues in the EU.'
As part of today's trip, Mrs Merkel and Mr Cameron visited the British Museum to see a history of her country.
The museum's Germany: Memories Of A Nation exhibition traces 600 years of the country's history, with exhibits including works of art and a Volkswagen Beetle.
Ahead of their meeting, the Prime Minister and Chancellor Merkel issued a joint statement which said: 'We meet to discuss key issues to advance our common agenda, in particular with regard to the German G7 presidency.
'At the same time, we must do more to make the EU more stable and competitive than it is today. We have both taken steps at home to consolidate our public finances and it is important that we continue to pursue this long-term plan.
'We must do more to harness the potential of the single market and reduce regulation that is hampering business.
'We must also dismantle further barriers to trade, in particular by agreeing an EU-US trade deal in 2015, which was launched at the UK's G8 summit in Lough Erne.'
Downing Street said that the pair's talks would focus on the German presidency of the G7.
However Mr Cameron also reiterated his warning that if he fails to secure the reforms he could back Britain's exit.
His demands on welfare reform include banning EU nationals from claiming in-work benefits or social housing in Britain for four years, deporting jobless migrants if they do not get work for six months and refusing to allow other countries to join the EU without imposing controls on the movement of their workers until their economies have reached UK levels.
Mr Cameron said at the weekend: 'EU migrants should have a job offer before they come here. UK taxpayers will not support them if they don't.'
However, there are reports that the European Commission is preparing to block the move.
The Guardian said the commission is preparing to let Number 10 know that the proposal would be unworkable because it would be impossible to distinguish between EU jobseekers and tourists entering the UK.
Ukip leader Nigel Farage
Ahead of the visit, Ukip leader Nigel Farage said: 'Germany is facing its own problems at the moment and would not want Britain to start turning away EU jobseekers, potentially redirecting them to seek work there.
'If Chancellor Merkel agreed that UK can close the door on EU jobseekers she would also have to recognise that a great many that were Britain bound would instead seek work in Germany as the continent's biggest economy, and that is a risk she is likely to be unwilling to take.'
Labour's shadow Europe minister Pat McFadden said Chancellor Merkel would not be driven by 'the need to pander to the eurosceptics inside today's Conservative Party'.
He added: 'Even once her visit is over, the gap between what David Cameron's eurosceptic backbenchers are demanding and what European allies such as Germany will accept, remains unbridgeable.
'Europe does need to change, but the tragedy for Britain is that since being elected, David Cameron has spent more time negotiating with his backbenchers than with other EU leaders.'
Last edited: