Merkel and Thorning-Schmidt on EU and euro

The German chancellor Angela Merkel met the leaders of Denmark and the United Kingdom, the two EU member states with opt-outs from introducing the euro currency.

First a look at the press conference with the new prime minister of Denmark.


Helle Thorning-Schmidt

Denmark takes on the presidency of the Council of the European Union from the beginning of 2012, after Poland. Merkel told the Danish prime minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt that even if the 17 countries of the eurozone need to solve certain problems on their own, Germany does not forget that the union of 27 belongs together and that the internal market is the foundation for the euro.

Limited treaty reform is necessary among the euro area countries, according to Merkel.

Thorning-Schmidt underlined the need for all 27 EU member states to face the crisis together, by using the community method and the EU institutions.

Merkel wanted to see the Council presidency of Denmark as a bridge between the eurozone and the rest of the member states. Denmark is committed to the stability and growth pact, as well as a competitive country.

Thorning-Schmidt said that the discussions about treaty reform continue in December, but seemed to prefer a strictly limited basis ahead of the European Council.



Ralf Grahn