Merkel ‘curious’ about Brexit deal
GERMAN chancellor Angela Merkel said she is “curious” about the UK’s approach to Brexit as she held talks with Theresa May.
Mrs Merkel insisted she was not “frustrated” by the lack of detail in the UK’s position on the future relationship it wants with the European Union but wanted to know more about Mrs May’s plan.
The Prime Minister, speaking alongside the German leader following talks in Berlin, said she wanted a “bold and ambitious partnership”, but it was not a “one-way street” as EU firms also stood to benefit.
But Mrs Merkel – who said Germany deplored the UK’s decision to leave the EU – insisted that there could still be a close relationship and “this does not mean that it needs to be cherry-picking”.
Mrs Merkel said: “We basically have not changed our stance on Britain leaving the European Union.
“We deplore it, but we want to adopt a constructive position because we want to have as close as possible partnership with Britain even after leaving the European Union both economically and politically.”
She added that the Brexit deal needed to strike a “fair balance” but would be different to the full benefits of membership of the single market, something the remaining 27 EU members would closely assess.
“We as 27 will be very carefully vetting that process to see to it that it is as close as possible but that it is different to what Britain currently has as a member – which is what they want and what the British people want but this does not mean that it needs to be cherry-picking.”
On Wednesday, a spokesman for Mrs Merkel said the British needed to come forward with concrete proposals.
It followed reports she had mocked Mrs May’s negotiating approach at last month’s World Economic Forum at Davos, complaining every time she asked her what she wanted, the Prime Minister replied: “Make me an offer.”
But standing next to Mrs May, the German leader said: “I’m not frustrated at all. I’m just curious how Britain envisages this future partnership.”
Mrs May, who will speak in Munich today about plans for a close security relationship with the EU after Brexit, said the Government would give more economic partnership plan details “in the coming weeks”.
The next round of Brexit talks in Brussels would begin on Monday with the “immediate goal” of agreeing the transition period for when the UK leaves in March 2019.
“We have referred in our discussions to the UK’s vision for a bold and ambitious economic partnership once the UK leaves the European Union,” she said.
“I want to ensure that UK companies have the maximum freedom to trade and for German businesses to do the same.”
But, in an indication that she wanted movement from EU leaders, she said: “It isn’t just a one-way street. I think that’s what’s important. Actually, I want a future economic partnership that is good for the EU and is good for the UK.”