'Berlin is being quite German' Merkel's businesses won't budge on Brexit deal with UK
GERMAN businesses will not budge on their Brexit position and will continue to back the European Union as Britain negotiates its exit from the Brussels bloc, an expert has claimed.
German policy expert: Brexit isn't 'top of priority list in Berlin'
Businesses in Germany will support the EU as Britain negotiates a Brexit deal, according to an expert for the Centre for European Reform.
Sophie Besch claimed “Berlin is being quite German” about the whole Brexit process and argued that the UK’s exit from the bloc was not at the “top of the list” for Angela Merkel.
Speaking to the World at One, Ms Besch rejected suggestions that German car manufacturers and business leaders would fight to protect trade with the UK.
She said: “Berlin is really being quite German about the negotiations so far which means it is prioritising the rules of the EU and of the EU’s negotiating team under Barnier.
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“It is showing very little flexibility.
“Of course, Germany has just recently had an election itself, so Chancellor Merkel is facing the challenge of forming a new German government which might take some time.
“Brexit is not really at the top of the priority list at the moment in Berlin.
“Of course Germany has economic interests in the Brexit negotiations but those won’t necessarily lead to a more sympathetic position towards Britain.”
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Berlin is really being quite German about the negotiations so far which means it is prioritising the rules of the EU
Ms Besch said that despite “close” ties with Britain, German businesses were not willing to allow the single market to be “watered down”.
The UK is the second biggest export market for German car manufacturers with a value of nearly £26billion.
Dieter Kempf, head of the BDI, which represents German businesses, said it was the UK's responsibility “to limit the damage on both sides of the Channel”.
He told the Observer: “Defending the single market, a key European project, must be the priority for the European Union.
“Europe must maintain the integrity of the single market and its four freedoms: goods, capital, services, and labour.
“It is the responsibility of the British government to limit the damage on both sides of the Channel.”
And Ingo Kramer, president of the Confederation of German employers’ associations (BDA), told the same newspaper that “the cohesion of the remaining 27 EU member states has the highest priority”.
The Prime Minister is set to warn EU chief’s that the “ball is in your court” in a sign of frustration against slow progress in negotiations.
Mrs May is expected to tell MP’s she remains “optimistic” about getting a deal while insisting it is now the EU’s turn to come up with proposals for negotiation.