Our second #NegotBrexit keynote: @NvOndarza on German views
Von Ondarza: A history of misunderstandings
Von Ondarza: public view was of British pragmatism, so much shock at #EUref, then sadness
Von Ondarza: However, Brexit largely a non-issue in DE. didn't figure in elections, and broad consensus among parties in Bundestag (even AfD focused on IM integrity)
Von Ondarza: Thus, rising sense of letting UK move on, albeit with UK accepting consequences of that
Von Ondarza: core principles of DE Brexit policy:
- EU unity & IM integrity at core
- protect interests of sml MS
- orderly Brexit, but not at all costs
- UK will have to fit in EU system of 3rd state rels
- Sec/Def as possible exception in this
- EU unity & IM integrity at core
- protect interests of sml MS
- orderly Brexit, but not at all costs
- UK will have to fit in EU system of 3rd state rels
- Sec/Def as possible exception in this
Von Ondarza: DE unwilling to extend backstop to entire UK, for legal and economic reasons, but some flexib'y on customs
Von Ondarza: Much DE dislike of Chequers in gvt or business
Von Ondarza: growing sense that no-deal is an option and has to be prepared. However, no official docs on this yet available (and unlikely unless Dec failure in negotiations), but will assume no emergency side-deals
