Posted: Jun 15, 2019 11:17 am
Scot Dutchy wrote:Brexit deal: What Germany wants, what Theresa May can getUK Prime Minister Theresa May has until October 31 to try and save the Brexit deal. DW outlines where Germany stands on the issue. It has a vested interest in avoiding a hard Brexit but an even bigger one in a strong EU.
The EU takes precedence
Together with France, Germany is the main proponent and driving force of the European Union. Thus the primary principle in Berlin's Brexit policy has been to prioritize the welfare of the bloc. The EU, and its chief negotiator Michel Barnier, speaks on behalf of all member states collectively. Individual European nations have thus far forgone bilateral talks with the United Kingdom.
With the EU holding remarkably solid on the issue, it was always very unlikely that May would be able to extract any concessions from Chancellor Angela Merkel. After a December meeting, the German leader said that negotiations "would not be reopened," and this line has continued into 2019.
Germany's position is identical to the EU's in that the deal agreed upon in November 2018 is the only one possible and should be implemented. An extension granted to May giving her until October 31 to get the deal ratified by the British Parliament has not changed the EU's view that the existing deal is the final offer.
Quite clear. "would not be reopened,"
Yes, it is clear. It does not say no extension, it says no renegotiation. Indeed this has been Merkel's line since December (as the article states explicitly), since when there have been two extensions and no renegotiations.
These are two different things.