Cameron, Merkel hold “candid” talks

British Prime Minister David Cameron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have held “candid” talks concerning the subject of the European Commission’s (EC) next president.

According to AFP, Cameron’s spokesman said the British Prime Minister and Merkel met on Wednesday at the UK’s EU office in Brussels following the dinner held for the leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) leading industrialized nations.

The spokesman said “Their discussions focused on the next European Commission — the issues it should focus on and the appointment of the next president.”

Britain objects to Germany’s favored candidate for the EC chief’s position, former Luxembourg premier Jean-Claude Juncker.

But according to a source in Cameron’s Downing Street office the meeting between Merkel and Cameron had not gone as smoothly as planned.

The source said “They had friendly, candid and constructive discussions … in the spirit of finding consensus.”

British Prime Minister David Cameron threatened earlier this week that his country would exit the EU if Juncker, becomes the next EC president, as the appointment would politicize the Commission.

Merkel told the German parliament on June 14 that she was aware of London’s objection to her favored candidate for EC presidency, Jean-Claude Juncker, but hoped that the UK would remain in the bloc.