13 October 2019

POLITICO: Merkel sees post-Brexit UK as ‘potential competitor’ to EU

Merkel made the comments alongside French President Emmanuel Macron ahead of a working dinner between the two leaders in Paris. Her remarks suggest Berlin now harbors serious doubts that the EU and the U.K. can work together as close partners after Brexit — despite both sides having previously insisted that is their intention.

Speaking to reporters at the Elysée Palace, the German leader outlined a wide range of areas — including trade, climate policy and artificial intelligence — in which Berlin and Paris aim to cooperate more closely. EU officials have repeatedly insisted that the U.K. must commit to a level playing field on issues like state aid or the EU would refuse to eliminate tariffs under a future EU-U.K. trade deal.

"We will do all this in the knowledge that with the departure of Great Britain, a potential competitor will of course emerge for us. That is to say, in addition to China and the United States of America, there will be Great Britain as well," Merkel said.

"Here Europe must show what the European Union can achieve: That means we must work faster, work more consistently, and the new [European] Commission with Ursula von der Leyen at its head should also become operational as quickly as possible."

Von der Leyen's Commission is almost certain not to be ready to take office as scheduled on November 1 after three members of her team were rejected by the European Parliament — including France's nominee, Sylvie Goulard.

In his remarks to reporters, Macron took another shot at the European Parliament and its leading political groups, whom he has sought to blame for the failure of his nominee.

“I want us, with Chancellor Merkel and President-designate of the Commission, Mrs. von der Leyen, to be able to build a strong Commission based on a solid majority in the European Parliament that we all have the responsibility of building," Macron said. [...]

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