David Cameron and Angela Merkel call for 'urgent' European reform

David Cameron and Angela Merkel have called for “urgent” action to make the European Union more competitive and flexible.

 

The Prime Minister and the German chancellor discussed possible reforms to the single market in a summit at the 18th century Schloss Meseberg, Mrs Merkel’s rural retreat.

The talks came just days after the death of Baroness Thatcher, who was a keen advocate of European reform.

Earlier this year Mr Cameron set out plans to renegotiate Britain’s relationship with the EU and then hold a referendum on Britain’s membership of the single market by 2017.

Some of Mr Cameron’s critics have argued that he will not be able to repatriate powers from Brussels or significantly change Britain’s relationship with the EU as there is little appetite for reform amongst Europe’s leaders.

However, a Downing Street spokesman said after the talks: “On the EU the PM set out his approach to European reform, following on from his speech in January. They agreed on the urgent need to make Europe more competitive and flexible and talked about ways to achieve this.