Germany’s EU ambassador Michael Clauß has said the UK “needs to have a more realistic approach” on Brexit. “No real progress” has been made so far he told @epc_eu. Hopes there will be a deal by second half October and it cannot be much later b/c EP ratification.
“Is a deal possible? Yes Definitely. But I think it also means the UK has to have a more realistic approach… You cannot have a full sovereignty and at the same time full access to the internal market.”
Amb Clauß sees German presidency (starts 1 July) falling into three phases
1. MFF and EU recovery fund - ideally July deal. 2. Brexit consuming pol attention Sept and Oct. 3. After that, Germany wants make progress on migration and Green Deal
1. MFF and EU recovery fund - ideally July deal. 2. Brexit consuming pol attention Sept and Oct. 3. After that, Germany wants make progress on migration and Green Deal
Corona/Recovery Fund: Coronavirus impact “is a much bigger crisis” than 2008 Clauß said. "It is existential… and that is also the reason why Germany did something that nobody had expected," referring to Franco-German plan. But plays down ‘Hamiltonian moment’
EU negotiations on the recovery fund “will not really start until July” - Amb Clauß no fan of video summits - format of 19 June EUCO. He rates them 20% as effective b/c no meeting in the margins. RF proposal also v technical and will take weeks to understand
German ambassador not optimistic on EC plan for more EU own resources to fund repayment recovery fund loans. National finance ministers already have their eyes on digital taxes and FTT. Plastic tax "easy one" but "won't do the trick" on its own.
Migration: "For five years we have been negotiating without result. German amb doesn’t believe there can be a solution “without some kind of mandatory relocation”.
Thank you to @epc_eu for interesting event.
Thank you to @epc_eu for interesting event.
