The Germans favor a “super state” on the continent controlled from Brussels. The English want a loose confederation of states, perhaps looser than the one now enjoyed by all, perhaps just a trade union. Merkel wants “teeth” to punish errant states that don’t balance their budgets and live beyond their means. Cameron says the ECB should instead print money and buy bonds. Merkel says that never solved anything.
All this disagreement harkens back to World War II. Germany has been a growing power since the middle of the nineteenth century. England is trying to perserve its status. They are totally at odds. At the core is the conviction that it is against England’s interests to have a strong Germany.