German minister woos ‘indispensable’ Britain

At a joint Press conference with Foreign Secretary William Hague in London yesterday, Guido Westerwelle said the union had to remain “united”.

“For Germany the United Kingdom is an indispensable partner in the European Union,” he said. “There is no doubt for us that we want to make the next steps in the EU together as 27, or next with Croatia as 28 countries.

“We think we have a common destiny. We think the EU is not only the answer to the darkest chapter of our history. It is also a life insurance in times of globalisation because no country, not Germany, not Great Britain, not France, no country is strong and big enough to face the challenges of globalisation alone.”

He added: “My main message is for the British people – you can count on us, and we count on you.”

Mr Westerwelle, who is vice-chancellor in the German coalition government, said he was making an offer and a gesture to move on from the tensions.

The EU was much more than a “currency” for the German people. He said a conversation when German Chancellor Angela Merkel telephoned Mr Cameron last week had been very constructive.

“I am here to show you that we are willing to build bridges over troubled water,” he added. There was a mutual interest in a European common future.