Press

Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform, sounded a note of caution on the presumption that by leaving the EU Customs Union and regaining control of its trade policy, the UK would derive major economic benefits. Grant went on to note that, whilst this was a likely scenario, it was not inevitable and the Treasury had serious concerns that any new trade deals would not be able to outweigh the effect of a less close economic relationship with the EU.

Po tragicznych dla May przedterminowych wyborach, z których wyszła z mniejszościowym rządem, parlament w coraz większym stopniu korzysta ze swoich uprawnień do kontroli procesu rokowań z Unią – przyznaje „Rz" Agata Gostyńska z londyńskiego Center for European Reform (CER). – Jednak sondaże pokazują, że przedterminowe wybory mogą doprowadzić do zwycięstwa laburzystów, a nowym premierem może zostać Jeremy Corbyn. Każdy deputowany torysów dwa razy się zastanowi zanim zdecyduje się na takie rozwiązanie – dodaje.

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. 

Christian Odendahl of the Centre for European Reform in Berlin said the new coalition government will tread carefully and try not to upset the new French president. "Germany does know, and I think the FDP also knows, that Macron and France are incredibly important to Germany and the stability of the European Union, now with Britain out," Odendahl said.