Yahoo – AFP, December
16, 2015
German Chancellor Angela Merkel addresses lawmakers at the Bundestag
(lower house of parliament) in Berlin, on December 16, 2015 (AFP Photo/
Odd Andersen)
|
Berlin
(AFP) - Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday ahead of an EU summit that
Germany would not give in to Britain's demands for EU reform if it meant
sacrificing achievements made by the bloc on integration.
"On
the one hand, we want to reach an agreement with the British government... on
the other hand, we will not put the fundamental achievements of European integration
in question, in particular, the principles of freedom of movement and
non-discrimination of European citizens," said Merkel in an address to
parliament.
"These
principles are not up for debate," she said, on the eve of a summit when
leaders of the 28-nation bloc are to discuss Britain's demands.
British
Prime Minister David Cameron has cited curbing benefits for EU migrants as one
of the key reforms he is seeking, before his country holds a referendum in 2017
on whether to leave the EU.
Under his
plan, EU migrants employed in Britain would only be able to claim welfare
payments after four years.
Cameron
says he will campaign to stay in the EU only if he gets a reform deal.
But he
faces stiff resistance from other leaders, who view his proposals as
discriminatory.
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