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Germany's Merkel drops hint of a 'creative' Brexit compromise

By Andreas Rinke

 

An EU flag flutters during an anti-Brexit demonstration outside the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain January 28, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

 

TOKYO (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday offered a way to break the deadlock over the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union, calling for a "creative" compromise to allay concerns over the future of Irish border arrangements.

 

The United Kingdom is due under British and European law to leave the EU in just 53 days yet Prime Minister Theresa May wants last-minute changes to a divorce deal agreed with the EU last November to win over lawmakers in the British parliament.

 

May is seeking legally binding changes to the deal to replace the Northern Irish backstop, an insurance policy that aims to prevent the reintroduction of a hard border between EU-member Ireland and the British province of Northern Ireland.

 

While Merkel said she did not want the so-called Withdrawal Agreement renegotiated, she added that difficult questions could be resolved with creativity, the strongest hint to date that the EU's most powerful leader could be prepared to compromise.

 

"There are definitely options for preserving the integrity of the single market even when Northern Ireland isn't part of it because it is part of Britain while at the same time meeting the desire to have, if possible, no border controls," Merkel said.

 

"To solve this point you have to be creative and listen to each other, and such discussions can and must be conducted," Merkel said at a news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo.

 

Merkel said the Irish backstop issue could be solved as part of a discussion over a separate agreement on the future relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom, offering May a potential way out of the deadlock.

 

Merkel's stance on Brexit is driven by an eagerness to preserve the integrity of the EU and its internal market, which are crucial to Germany's post-war identity and prosperity, while also keeping Britain close to the bloc even after it leaves.

 

Keen to avoid the economic disruption a no-deal Brexit would bring to Germany's economy, which slowed sharply last year, Merkel also values Britain as a like-minded partner and wants to keep its security expertise close at hand.

 

"We can still use the time to perhaps reach an agreement if everyone shows good will," Merkel said.

 

LAST-MINUTE DEAL?

Britain's labyrinthine crisis over EU membership is approaching its finale with an array of options including no-deal Brexit, a last-minute deal, a snap election or a delay.

 

May said she would seek a pragmatic solution when she tries to reopen talks with Brussels though Brexit-supporting lawmakers in her Conservative Party have warned they will vote against her deal unless there are substantial changes.

 

In Brussels, a group of British lawmakers met the head of the EU civil service and said Martin Selmayr appeared to indicate that the EU might bind itself to new legal conditions.

 

While European Commission Secretary General Selmayr, the long-time lieutenant of President Jean-Claude Juncker, had reiterated the EU line that it would not reopen the withdrawal agreement, Labour lawmaker Hilary Benn told reporters: "I got the impression that they might be prepared to consider some additional statement or legal protocol."

 

But Selmayr was quick to fire back on Twitter: "On the EU side, nobody is considering this."

 

The German EU official said the lawmakers gave "inconclusive" answers when he asked whether any EU assurances could help May win support for her deal.

 

Selmayr has been in charge of the bloc's preparations for the event of Britain failing to agree on an orderly withdrawal and his role in meeting the lawmakers was seen by some British commentators as a sign of a harder line from Brussels than that from Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, a former French minister.

 

(Additional reporting by Paul Sandle in Berlin, Alastair Macdonald in Brussels; Writing by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Janet Lawrence)

 

 -- © Copyright Reuters 2019-02-05

[keith101]

Give Northern Ireland their independence and there is no longer anything to talk about and just get on with Brexit .

[Chomper Higgot]

1 minute ago, keith101 said:

Give Northern Ireland their independence and there is no longer anything to talk about and just get on with Brexit .

The DUP would go for that.

 

Doh!

[nauseus]

Well if anyone can change the recent blanket "no renegotiations" from the EU, I suppose it would be Mutti. Trouble is they will might just change the type of trap. Good luck with that anyway.  

[welovesundaysatspace]

“Merkel said the Irish backstop issue could be solved as part of a discussion over a separate agreement on the future relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom” — full EU membership after Brexit? At least no one could complain the referendum result hasn’t been implemented. 

[Baerboxer]

4 hours ago, keith101 said:

Give Northern Ireland their independence and there is no longer anything to talk about and just get on with Brexit .

 

Loony idea. Apart from anything else an independent NI wouldn't be part of the EU as the UK is the sovereign member state. And NI wouldn't have a cat in hell's chance of meeting the entry criteria.

 

Null point for you sport.

 

Better idea - withdraw Article 50 and remain in the EU.

[keith101]

Just now, Baerboxer said:

 

Loony idea. Apart from anything else an independent NI wouldn't be part of the EU as the UK is the sovereign member state. And NI wouldn't have a cat in hell's chance of meeting the entry criteria.

 

Null point for you sport.

 

Better idea - withdraw Article 50 and remain in the EU.

I didnt say anything about them joining the EU read again slowly .

[Baerboxer]

2 hours ago, welovesundaysatspace said:

“Merkel said the Irish backstop issue could be solved as part of a discussion over a separate agreement on the future relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom” — full EU membership after Brexit? At least no one could complain the referendum result hasn’t been implemented. 

 

Actually that would be the best outcome for most EU members.

 

The UK becoming a new member on worse conditions, without all it's opt outs and rebates, than before it left.

 

Yep, nothing would surprise where these politicians are involved.

[Baerboxer]

Just now, keith101 said:

I didnt say anything about them joining the EU read again slowly .

 

If Northern Ireland wasn't part of the UK, and became an independent state it wouldn't be part of the EU and so there would have to be a hard border there with the Republic.

 

So you think the UK, Norther Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and the EU would all go for that solution?

 

Bravo - can't understand why the Tories haven't summoned you to head the negotiations. ????

[keith101]

9 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

So you think the UK, Norther Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and the EU would all go for that solution?

What the hell has it got to do with the EU and the Republic of Ireland and why would there have to be a hard border is there one now ?

Edited February 5, 2019 by keith101

[welovesundaysatspace]

1 minute ago, keith101 said:

What the hell has it got to do with the EU and why would there have to be a hard border is there one now ?

Hint: Study a map and the various agreements those countries have. 

[sammieuk1]

Give her London as a compromise at least we can get rid of the Russians and Chinese old Etonians and useless lying politicians ????  

[gamini]

24 minutes ago, sammieuk1 said:

Give her London as a compromise at least we can get rid of the Russians and Chinese old Etonians and useless lying politicians ????  

typical low-class comment. Eton over its many years has produced many of the finest and best Britons. I am not referring to Boris Johnson or David Cameron. 

[jamesy9368]

9 hours ago, keith101 said:

Give Northern Ireland their independence and there is no longer anything to talk about and just get on with Brexit .

I suggest you read a few history books before making any more statements like that. As the Catholics are breeding fast I am sure when they get the right numbers they may well join the rest of Ireland. As far as hard borders go its funny how the EU wants one now in Ireland but 100 of thousands can pop over from Africa and the Middle East many to kill steal and rape and that's no problem for the EU. Why the hard border issue now.???

[candide]

My experience of life is that when someone talks about a "creative" solution, it's time to start worrying.

[Dumbastheycome]

7 hours ago, gamini said:

typical low-class comment. Eton over its many years has produced many of the finest and best Britons. I am not referring to Boris Johnson or David Cameron. 

Well really !  A class interjection ? Eton may  very well  have produced some things but that product  stays well  clear  of  the political morass ! In jolly old  fact their interests just  may exit  upon Brexit. Tough titty  for  the  class  act !

[elliss]

8 hours ago, sammieuk1 said:

Give her London as a compromise at least we can get rid of the Russians and Chinese old Etonians and useless lying politicians ????  

         Would  that be London-derry,   brexit problem solved , at last .  gbp set to rise .

 

 

Edited February 5, 2019 by elliss

[Retiredandhappyhere]

1 hour ago, candide said:

My experience of life is that when someone talks about a "creative" solution, it's time to start worrying.

You should not worry as a "creative solution" suggested by Merkel, simply means she realises that the "back-stop" in the current agreement has not been and will not be accepted by the UK parliament, which means that, unless it is changed in some way, the result will be a NO DEAL, harmful to the UK AND to the EU.

 

However, as the EU has constantly said that the deal could not be renegotiated, an alternative solution will be arrived at which will no doubt be recorded in a legal additional agreement, so that it would appear that the original agreement has not been changed.  To an ordinary person, that would seem like a re-negotiation of the original agreement, but to a politician, used to playing with words, it means no such thing, thereby satisfying both parties.

 

I have maintained all along that an acceptable agreement will be reached at the eleventh hour, in accordance with usual EU practice, thereby  enabling the UK to leave the EU on 29th March of this year, as originally planned.  Merkel's statement, yet of course to be agreed by the other 27 members will nevertheless be persuasive as it is in the interests of all 28 countries involved to avoid a "no deal" situation.   

 

When this is all over and we leave on 29th March with a deal, I believe that Mrs May will at last get some credit for her stubborn refusal to give in to all the various attacks on her, including the half-hearted attempts to oust her completely.  Nobody else wanted the job, but in the end, she will have succeeded, despite some, (possibly unavoidable) turmoil along the way.

 

People like Johnson and Corbyn were quick to criticise but neither offered any concrete proposals of their own.  Corbyn, making a poor job of running the Labour Party, merely felt, for some obscure reason, that he could have done a better job.  Those people who believed that we should have entered negotiations on the basis of the option of a "no deal" not being on the table have clearly never entered into any serious negotiations in their lives, as they would be giving away their biggest bargaining chip right at the very start. 

 

 

 

[melvinmelvin]

2 minutes ago, Retiredandhappyhere said:

You should not worry as a "creative solution" suggested by Merkel, simply means she realises that the "back-stop" in the current agreement has not been and will not be accepted by the UK parliament, which means that, unless it is changed in some way, the result will be a NO DEAL, harmful to the UK AND to the EU.

 

However, as the EU has constantly said that the deal could not be renegotiated, an alternative solution will be arrived at which will no doubt be recorded in a legal additional agreement, so that it would appear that the original agreement has not been changed.  To an ordinary person, that would seem like a re-negotiation of the original agreement, but to a politician, used to playing with words, it means no such thing, thereby satisfying both parties.

 

I have maintained all along that an acceptable agreement will be reached at the eleventh hour, in accordance with usual EU practice, thereby  enabling the UK to leave the EU on 29th March of this year, as originally planned.  Merkel's statement, yet of course to be agreed by the other 27 members will nevertheless be persuasive as it is in the interests of all 28 countries involved to avoid a "no deal" situation.   

 

When this is all over and we leave on 29th March with a deal, I believe that Mrs May will at last get some credit for her stubborn refusal to give in to all the various attacks on her, including the half-hearted attempts to oust her completely.  Nobody else wanted the job, but in the end, she will have succeeded, despite some, (possibly unavoidable) turmoil along the way.

 

People like Johnson and Corbyn were quick to criticise but neither offered any concrete proposals of their own.  Corbyn, making a poor job of running the Labour Party, merely felt, for some obscure reason, that he could have done a better job.  Those people who believed that we should have entered negotiations on the basis of the option of a "no deal" not being on the table have clearly never entered into any serious negotiations in their lives, as they would be giving away their biggest bargaining chip right at the very start. 

 

 

 

 

largely agree with you re Merkel's comments

they may help in pushing the door into ajar position re the deal.

 

she is of course subjected to push from German industry

but still, her remarks make sense

 

don't underestimate that lady - she makes mistakes and misjudgements as all of us,

but she still possesses one of the sharpest brains in Europe

she is in my view formidable - a rare breed indeed

[nauseus]

39 minutes ago, melvinmelvin said:

 

largely agree with you re Merkel's comments

they may help in pushing the door into ajar position re the deal.

 

she is of course subjected to push from German industry

but still, her remarks make sense

 

don't underestimate that lady - she makes mistakes and misjudgements as all of us,

but she still possesses one of the sharpest brains in Europe

she is in my view formidable - a rare breed indeed

Let's hope she is indeed a rare breed indeed.

[pedro01]

The boss of Europe has spoken.

 

Did she say "Make it so" at the end?

[tomacht8]

I'm not a fan of Merkel. But in this situation, her approach makes sense. If there is a fixed deadline and two contracting parties can not agree, it is good first to fix the points where unification prevails. 

 

Excluding the issues and negotiating them separately later makes sense to prevent a totally unregulated exit chaos, which causes both sides only enormous

costs.

[arithai12]

11 hours ago, Retiredandhappyhere said:

NO DEAL, harmful to the UK AND to the EU.

yes, but in the same way that a car-train crash at a railway crossing is harmful to both. A bit more to the UK than the EU I would say. And inside the EU, not harmful to each member country in the same way. The fact that Merkel and other german politicians seem worried about a no deal Brexit shows that Germany stands to lose a little more, in relative terms, than others.

 

ps: all this in the short term, for the long term I don't have a crystal ball.

Edited February 6, 2019 by arithai12