Germany and France have forged a pact to integrate the eurozone without reopening the European treaties, in a blow to David Cameron’s referendum campaign.
The agenda of Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande for the eurozone, summarized in a document obtained by our correspondent, risk of at least one disgruntled David Cameron, expected Thursday 28 May in Paris, and Friday 29 in Berlin. After his re-election, the British prime minister hopes this week to push its advantage in order to obtain concessions from the French president and the German chancellor and better prepare the referendum he promised by the end of 2017 on whether or not his country remains in the European Union. He will be challenged to the extent that France, but also Germany, reject in advance in this joint text, one of the head of government claims of Her Majesty – the modification of European treaties – and suggest the contrary strengthen, bit by bit, the integration of the continent.
In a contribution sent Saturday, May 23 at Jean-Claude Juncker, the chairman of the commission – which by the end of June to pilot the preparation of a report on the deepening of the monetary union -, France and the Germany suggested that the euro zone to develop a program in “four areas of action, which should be developed in the framework of the current treaties in the coming years’ economic policy, economic convergence, tax and social stability Financial and investment, and governance of Monetary Union. And nothing less.
After the emergency rescue of the euro in recent years, Mrs Merkel and Mr Hollande agreed that “additional steps are necessary”, while Mr Cameron called instead to repatriate some powers to the capitals so that the Union “ever closer” promised by its founders no longer carved in stone. While Mr Cameron intends to restrict freedom of movement, protect the City continental regulatory effort, and it alone, Paris and Berlin prefer what they now see as the core of European integration, monetary union, whose existence has been shaken by the interminable shipwreck of Greece.
Prepared in the utmost discretion by their respective Sherpas, the document was finalized by François Hollande and Angela Merkel on the sidelines of the summit of “Eastern Partnership” with six countries of the former Soviet Union, including Ukraine, Friday 22 May in Riga. That day, David Cameron has not ruled out calling to vote “no” if he should get nothing from its European partners before consulting the British.
Their “contribution to the monetary union” shows that French and German leaders do not share much in common with David Cameron. In their paper, the Head of State and the Chancellor announce even want to propose by the end of 2016, “additional steps (…) that this time could examine the political and institutional framework, common instruments and legal bases (…) Long-term relevant. ” Nothing says that this does not lead so on a major overhaul of the European Treaties. But neither the sense nor according to the schedule outlined by David Cameron.
