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“We know that Britain’s departure has now entered a decisive phase and that we will hopefully have a European Council on Sunday to sign the exit treaty and discuss future relations,” Merkel told reporters Tuesday in Berlin.
Merkel’s note of caution reflects concern that May might want to renegotiate the Brexit draft at the summit on Sunday, which Germany would oppose, according to a person familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified. German Vice Chancellor Olaf Scholz also said there’s no wiggle room, telling Bloomberg it’s “necessary to agree to the things that are now on the table.”
Merkel made it clear last week that she’s unwilling to renegotiate, saying both sides had agreed on the draft “so right now the question of further negotiations doesn’t arise for me.” The EU and Britain must decide “whether what we have now is a basis,” she said on Nov. 15. [...]