THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Angela Merkel tells Germany's parliament that Britain is still an important partner in the European Union despite 'regretting' its refusal to back fiscal integration plans.
The German chancellor told the Bundestag that Britain will remain a crucial partner within the European Union despite its veto last week of a treaty on budget discipline, [.]
Chancellor Merkel appeared to be trying to build bridges following Prime Minister David Cameron's refusal to agree to changes to the EU's Lisbon Treaty on tougher budget rules after he failed to win safeguards for the City of London.
"As much as I regret that Britain did not join us on this path, and as much as I regret that 20 years ago Britain decided against the euro, I have no doubt that in the future Britain will also be an important partner in the European Union," Merkel told the lower house of parliament.
Countering the views of pro-Europeans who argue that Mr Cameron has risked isolating Britain from the EU decision[-]making process, the German chancellor said that Britain still had a role to play in several significant areas. » | Wednesday, December 14, 2011
