Angela Merkel ready to offer Britain limited EU opt-outs
Angela Merkel is prepared to grant David Cameron special assurances in a revised EU treaty to ensure that the interests of Britain and other non-euro members are protected in the European single market.
In a sign of the lengths the German chancellor is prepared to go to to ensure Britain remains in the EU, authoritative sources in Berlin say Merkel is also prepared to grant "limited opt-outs" to Britain and to ensure that EU regulations are enforced in a more flexible way.
One senior figure in Berlin has raised the prospect of giving the NHS an opt-out from the working time directive – a contentious measure criticised by Eurosceptics – which gives workers a series of rights.
The thinking among senior figures in Berlin has emerged on the eve of a visit to Britain by Merkel on Thursday in which the German chancellor will meet the Queen, address a joint session of parliament and hold separate meetings with the leaders of the three main political parties.
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/feb/25/angela-merkel-concessions-britain-eu-nhs