默克尔与卡梅伦讨论欧盟的未来

The leaders of Britain and Germany have met to discuss the future of the UK in the European Union.

British Prime Minister David Cameron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel both say they agree there need to be changes to the way the European Union operates.

For his part, David Cameron says he wants Britain to continue to play a role in the EU.

"I want Britain to be a positive player in a reformed European Union and I know that Angela wants a strong Britain in that reformed European Union. My objective is clear, I want to be able to say to the British people in the referendum that will take place by the end of 2017, that we have sufficiently reformed the European Union that they should vote to remain in it. But be in no doubt, it will be an in-out referendum."

Cameron has pledged to hold a UK-wide referendum on whether Britian should remain part of the European Union, provided his conservatives win the next election.

For her part, Angela Merkel says she believes a "common solution" can be found that would enable Britain to remain in the EU.

"I believe in it, but it is also no walk in the park, it will need hard work, but we have already done a lot of hard work on other issues in Europe, and if you want Great Britain to stay in the European Union - and I want that - and if at the same time you want a European Union that is competitive and generates growth, then you can find common solutions."

Britian has long-complained about the amount it pays into the European Union system for the returns the island nation gets.

Many in the UK feel the European Union gives too much sway to issues connected to contential Europe.