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| David Cameron and Angela Merkel in EU reform talks | David Cameron and Angela Merkel in EU reform talks |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| David Cameron will try to persuade German Chancellor Angela Merkel to back him over EU reforms as the two leaders hold face-to-face talks later. | David Cameron will try to persuade German Chancellor Angela Merkel to back him over EU reforms as the two leaders hold face-to-face talks later. |
| The PM is on a whistle-stop tour of Europe trying to gather support for changes he wants before holding the UK's EU membership referendum. | The PM is on a whistle-stop tour of Europe trying to gather support for changes he wants before holding the UK's EU membership referendum. |
| He urged his fellow EU leaders to be "flexible and imaginative". | He urged his fellow EU leaders to be "flexible and imaginative". |
| But one of Germany's most senior businessmen said Europe should refuse to negotiate with him. | But one of Germany's most senior businessmen said Europe should refuse to negotiate with him. |
| Volker Treier, who is deputy chief executive of Germany's chamber of commerce and industry, told the BBC the German business world was "astonished" the UK was holding a referendum at all. | |
| 'Carefully thought-out' | 'Carefully thought-out' |
| Asked how far Ms Merkel should go in accommodating Britain's requests, he said: "Our recommendation is not to deal under such circumstances." | Asked how far Ms Merkel should go in accommodating Britain's requests, he said: "Our recommendation is not to deal under such circumstances." |
| Mr Cameron has not set out in full detail the reforms he is pushing for, but they will include tougher rules to prevent migrants claiming benefits. | Mr Cameron has not set out in full detail the reforms he is pushing for, but they will include tougher rules to prevent migrants claiming benefits. |
| He also wants safeguards to protect the City of London in the event of closer eurozone integration and an exemption for Britain from the EU drive for "ever closer union". | He also wants safeguards to protect the City of London in the event of closer eurozone integration and an exemption for Britain from the EU drive for "ever closer union". |
| Securing the backing of Ms Merkel, who leads Europe's largest economy, will be crucial to his chances of negotiation success. | Securing the backing of Ms Merkel, who leads Europe's largest economy, will be crucial to his chances of negotiation success. |
| She has previously said she wanted the UK in a "strong and successful Europe" while stressing the importance of the free movement principle, which has seen a rise in the number of EU migrants coming to the UK. | She has previously said she wanted the UK in a "strong and successful Europe" while stressing the importance of the free movement principle, which has seen a rise in the number of EU migrants coming to the UK. |
| BBC Europe editor Katya Adler said Mr Cameron's four-country tour - taking in the Netherlands and France on Thursday, followed by Poland and Germany on Friday - was "carefully thought-out". | BBC Europe editor Katya Adler said Mr Cameron's four-country tour - taking in the Netherlands and France on Thursday, followed by Poland and Germany on Friday - was "carefully thought-out". |
| The Netherlands and Germany were seen as "open to reforming the single market", she said, while France was "trickier" and Poland seen as a "rising star". | The Netherlands and Germany were seen as "open to reforming the single market", she said, while France was "trickier" and Poland seen as a "rising star". |
| Ahead of formal negotiations "tone is as important as content", she said, adding: "As he travels around Europe he will find an appetite for reform - but David Cameron's trickiest trick will be to persuade leaders that his way is the right way." | Ahead of formal negotiations "tone is as important as content", she said, adding: "As he travels around Europe he will find an appetite for reform - but David Cameron's trickiest trick will be to persuade leaders that his way is the right way." |
| During his talks with the French President, Francois Hollande, Mr Cameron said: "The status quo is not good enough". | During his talks with the French President, Francois Hollande, Mr Cameron said: "The status quo is not good enough". |
| "I believe there are changes we can make that will not just benefit Britain, but the rest of Europe too," he added. | "I believe there are changes we can make that will not just benefit Britain, but the rest of Europe too," he added. |
| Mr Cameron's tour coincided with the publication of his government's EU Referendum Bill, which contains details of the question and the commitment to staging the vote by the end of 2017. | Mr Cameron's tour coincided with the publication of his government's EU Referendum Bill, which contains details of the question and the commitment to staging the vote by the end of 2017. |
| Downing Street wants voters to be asked the question: "Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union?" | Downing Street wants voters to be asked the question: "Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union?" |
| The Electoral Commission suggested this form of words - which would make those campaigning to stay in the EU the Yes campaign - in 2013. | The Electoral Commission suggested this form of words - which would make those campaigning to stay in the EU the Yes campaign - in 2013. |
| Labour is backing the bill, meaning it is likely to speed through the House of Commons. | Labour is backing the bill, meaning it is likely to speed through the House of Commons. |
| EU referendum in focus | EU referendum in focus |
| David Cameron is starting renegotiation of the terms of Britain's EU membership ahead of a referendum. Here is some further reading on what it all means: | David Cameron is starting renegotiation of the terms of Britain's EU membership ahead of a referendum. Here is some further reading on what it all means: |
| The UK and the EU: Better off in or out? | The UK and the EU: Better off in or out? |
| What Britain wants from Europe | What Britain wants from Europe |
| Q&A: The UK's planned EU referendum | Q&A: The UK's planned EU referendum |
| Timeline: EU referendum debate | Timeline: EU referendum debate |
| Why Germany is David Cameron's new best friend | Why Germany is David Cameron's new best friend |