09 November 2012

Spiegel: Berlin and Brussels demand more from London and Paris

London must be more willing to compromise, and Paris needs to get on the economic reform bandwagon - at least that is what top European and German politicians are demanding as tough EU budget talks swiftly approach.

The European Commission and top German politicians are becoming increasingly exasperated with both France and Britain as the summit in Brussels to determine the EU budget for the seven-year period from 2014 to 2020 approaches. Both countries have been insistent on getting their way as Member States position themselves for what promise to be difficult talks -- and both London and Paris have threatened to veto the budget if it doesn't meet their expectations. In response, European Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger, Germany's representative on the EU's executive body, has harshly criticised the two countries.

Oettinger warned against "cheap populism" when reporting on Greece, before saying "my problem children are France and Great Britain". By way of explanation, he said that with its anti-EU course, London has "taken leave of its senses". Turning to France, he said the country had too little industry and innovation.

Volker Kauder, head of Merkel's conservatives in parliament, was even firmer when it came to London. "I want Europe to stay together", he said. "Great Britain can't constantly claim special treatment; they too have to be prepared to compromise." The two politicians are just the latest to express frustration with the brinksmanship that has so far defined preliminary talks on the EU budget. British parliament recently passed a non-binding resolution demanding substantial cuts to the €1 trillion budget recently proposed by the European Commission.

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