Germany, Poland vow common efforts to keep Britain in EU

Germany and Poland would make all efforts to try to reach a compromise with Britain to enable the country to remain in the European Union (EU), said German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday.

"We agree that we want to do everything to make it possible for Britain to stay in the EU. And both Germany and Poland would do everything to find a compromise within EU principles with British Prime Minister David Cameron," said Merkel at a joint press conference with visiting Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo.

While stressing the importance of Britain's EU membership, Szydlo said that the interests of Polish workers in Britain should be respected, referring to the British demand to restrict certain social benefits for migrant workers.

On the controversial issue of the refugee influx in Europe, Szydlo stressed the permanent migrant quotas are not acceptable for Poland.

As a positive development, Merkel said Germany agreed to take up the Polish proposal to pursue a joint humanitarian project in one of the neighboring countries of Syria, like building a hospital or a school.

Szydlo said it was a "symbol that other EU countries should follow if they want to participate in tackling the migration crisis."

It was the Polish prime minister's first visit to Germany since taking office last November. Endit