Britain helps EU temper "head-in-the-clouds" mentality - German defence minister

Britain must stay in the EU to temper Germany's "excessive enthusiasm" on European matters, France's "great pathos" and Italy's "art of improvisation", German defence minister Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday. Praising Britons "scepticism", "understatement" and "grandiose pragmatism", she echoed other senior German politicians who have become more vocal in recent weeks about wanting Britain to stay in the 28-member bloc. Britons vote on June 23 and opinion polls over the past few days have