Merkel threat over budget

Published on 23/10/2012 01:01

GERMAN chancellor Angela Merkel is threatening to warn Downing Street that she will have the November summit called off unless the Prime Minister is ready to show flexibility over the EU budget, according to reports.

The story, later denied by Mrs Merkel’s spokesman, Steffen Seibert, comes amid anger over Mr Cameron’s warning that he will veto the EU budget if significant savings are not found.

Mrs Merkel is trying to persuade Mr Cameron to accept a German compromise that would cap EU spending at 1 per cent of European GDP, rather than the 1.1 per cent proposed by the European Commission.

But the Prime Minister has made it clear he does not see any case for a rise above inflation.

It was reported that the German chancellor would use a visit to Downing Street early next month to tell Mr Cameron that there was no point in holding a summit if he insisted on a veto.

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