- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

May Meets Merkel in Berlin as Brexit Bargaining Begins

© AFP 2023 / Oli Scarff Thierry CharlierThis combination of pictures created on July 13, 2016 shows (R) Britain's Home Secretary and new leader of the Conservative Party Theresa May arriving in Downing Street in London on July 12, 2016 and German Chancellor Angela Merkel smiling as she addresses the media at the end of the second day of an EU - Summit at the EU headquarters in Brussels on June 29, 2016.
This combination of pictures created on July 13, 2016 shows (R) Britain's Home Secretary and new leader of the Conservative Party Theresa May arriving in Downing Street in London on July 12, 2016 and German Chancellor Angela Merkel smiling as she addresses the media at the end of the second day of an EU - Summit at the EU headquarters in Brussels on June 29, 2016. - Sputnik International
Subscribe
UK Prime Minister Theresa May flies to Berlin Wednesday (July 20) on her first foreign visit as PM, knowing that German Chancellor Angela Merkel holds the key to Brexit negotiations, while struggling to hold the European dream together.

Merkel is already facing two crises: the European migrant crisis and the Eurozone troubles. On migrants, she has seen Schengen ripped apart as country after country closed their borders to stem the flow of migrants coming to Europe.

In Greece and Italy, plans to relocate 160,000 migrants to other EU member states have so far only seen 3,119 moved (as of July 18) because of opposition to migrants being allocated to countries on a quota basis.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan (L) chats with German Chancellor Angela Merkel (2nd R), U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (R) and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras (2nd L) during the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, Turkey, May 23, 2016 - Sputnik International
Merkel on the Horns of a Dilemma After Failed Coup Attempt in Turkey

Worse still, the deal brokered by Merkel with Turkey to relocate "irregular" migrants — those refused asylum in Greece — back to Turkey has hit the buffers.

The deal included the acceleration of Turkey's accession into the EU, but the recent attempted coup and Ankara's reaction to it — including the removal of countless members of the judiciary and the threat to reimpose capital punishment — is making that deal look increasingly unlikely to be fulfilled.

​In the Eurozone, Merkel was at pains to prevent Greece crashing out of the single currency, by imposing deeply unpopular austerity measures, including increasing the tax base and major reforms to the state pension scheme — both of which are deeply unpopular in Greece.

© AFP 2023 / LOUISA GOULIAMAKIA woman passes by the Bank of Greece headquarters where 'Greece' was changed to 'Berlin' during a 24-hour general strike in Athens on February 7, 2012.
A woman passes by the Bank of Greece headquarters where 'Greece' was changed to 'Berlin' during a 24-hour general strike in Athens on February 7, 2012. - Sputnik International
A woman passes by the Bank of Greece headquarters where 'Greece' was changed to 'Berlin' during a 24-hour general strike in Athens on February 7, 2012.

Meanwhile, Spain and Portugal are set to be fined for deficit breaches as the Mediterranean Eurozone struggles to maintain the same strict fiscal targets as north European members.

​Now Merkel has another major headache: Brexit. She will meet May for dinner in Berlin and impress on the British Prime Minister that there is already enough instability in Europe without Britain causing more.

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May (C) holds her first Cabinet Meeting at Downing Street, in London July 19, 2016. - Sputnik International
British PM Theresa May Holds First Cabinet Meeting, Begins Brexit
 Any delay in invoking Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon will not be acceptable to Berlin, which will want to see that happen within months.

Immigration

Both May and Merkel have immigration on their agendas, but for totally differing reasons. The Brexit referendum was fought largely on the grounds that the UK wanted to control the level of immigration in Britain and that remains high on the public agenda. However, Merkel — despite the current failure to agree a common EU immigration policy — will fight for the freedom of movement of people — a fundamental tenet of the EU.

Ahead of her meeting with Merkel, May said:

"I do not underestimate the challenge of negotiating our exit from the European Union and I firmly believe that being able to talk frankly and openly about the issues we face will be an important part of a successful negotiation."

© REUTERS / Peter NichollsBritain's Home Secretary, Theresa May, arrives in Downing Street in central London, Britain June 27, 2016.
Britain's Home Secretary, Theresa May, arrives in Downing Street in central London, Britain June 27, 2016. - Sputnik International
Britain's Home Secretary, Theresa May, arrives in Downing Street in central London, Britain June 27, 2016.

"I also want to deliver a very clear message about the importance we attach to our bilateral relationship with our European partners, not just now but also when we have left the European Union," May said.

The fact that May has chosen Berlin as her fist port of call is significant. If the two women can nurture a special relationship, it will set the tone for the Brexit negotiations. If they cannot reach agreement on the free movement of EU citizens, there may be trouble ahead.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала