German politician casts doubt on Britain's timetable to make serious EU changes in 2 years
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A prominent German lawmaker has cast doubt on British Prime Minister David Cameron's plans to fundamentally change the European Union, arguing that a two-year timetable is too short to resolve the legal issues needed for a treaty change.
Norbert Roettgen, a senior member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's party, says creativity would be needed to address Britain's problems with the EU before a UK referendum planned by the end of 2017. But treaty change is a huge political venture — and Roettgen says he doesn't "see the atmosphere for treaty change among the 27 other EU states."
He says "I can't see treaty change as a realistic option within the course of two years."
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Roettgen says keeping Britain in the EU is worth fighting for and preserving EU unity is crucial.