Merkel and Cameron Deadlocked ahead of Summit

Reports of meeting between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron in London, 7 November 2012 in the context of negotiations on the Multi-annual Financial Framework (MFF), 2014 - 2020 to be discussed at the European Council summit, Brussels, 22-23 November 2012.

Chancellor Merkel urged Britain not to turn away from the EU, and fired a salvo at hardline Conservative eurosceptics who favour withdrawal: 'Being alone in this world doesn’t make you any happier'.

One week before heads of state and government were to convene at the summit in Brussels summit to discuss the 2014-2020 budget, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy tabled a €950bn proposal that is €75 billion less than the European Commission's initial recommendation.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Website: Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020 http://www.europeansources.info/record/multiannual-financial-framework-2014-2020/

ESO: Background information: Merkel downplays EU budget veto threats http://www.europeansources.info/record/merkel-downplays-eu-budget-veto-threats/

Deutsche Welle, 06.11.12; Bridging the gap? 'Tough talking' in London http://www.dw.de/bridging-the-gap-tough-talking-in-london/a-16360932

Deutsche Welle, 08.11.12: Merkel meets Cameron over EU budget differences http://www.dw.de/merkel-meets-cameron-over-eu-budget-differences/a-16364741

EUObserver, 07.11.12: EU to be federalised in the long run, Merkel says http://euobserver.com/institutional/118126

EurActiv, 08.11.12: Merkel preaches federalism to MEPs, warns Britain against EU exit http://www.euractiv.com/euro-finance/merkel-preaches-federalism-meps-news-515920

EUObserver, 13.11.12: Budget deal unlikely before spring 2013, expert says http://euobserver.com/economic/118173

EUObserver, 14.11.12: New EU budget draft seeks cuts in farm aid, cohesion http://euobserver.com/economic/118195

ESO: Background information: EU annual budget talks flounder http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-annual-budget-talks-flounder/

EurActiv, 15.11.12: Van Rompuy tables €950-billion budget proposal http://www.euractiv.com/euro-finance/van-rompuy-tables-950-budget-pro-news-516056

Council of the European Union: Policies: Multiannual Financial Framework http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/multiannual-financial-framework/

Jyllands-Posten, El Mundo, Gazeta Wyborcza, La Stampa, 14.11.12: Bargaining set to go to the wire (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/press-review/3031541-bargaining-set-go-wire

EurActiv, 16.11.12: Romania threatens to veto EU's long-term budget http://www.euractiv.com/euro-finance/romania-mulls-veto-eu-budget-pro-news-516098

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