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Chancellor Angela Merkel hailed the agreement between the EU and Britain on a Brexit trade pact as historic. “With the agreement we are laying the foundations for a new chapter in our relations,” said the CDU politician on Thursday. “Britain will continue to be an important partner for Germany and the European Union also outside the European Union.” The agreement is “of historical importance”.
Merkel agreed to quickly review the text. The federal cabinet will reach an agreement on the German position by phone next Monday. “I am very confident that we have a good result here,” said the Chancellor. All member states and the EU Parliament must agree to the agreement.
Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) was also relieved by the agreement between the EU and Britain on a Brexit trade pact. “It was a marathon of negotiations, but in world record time and with a long final stretch. It was worth the much-cited extra effort,” Maas said. “Of course, we will now examine the draft closely in the EU member states. The 27 EU member states and then the European Parliament must agree.”
As Presidency of the EU Council, Germany will do everything possible to ensure that the agreement can enter into force provisionally on January 1, 2021. “It will be a great challenge and will require a lot of flexibility from all parties. But I am sure it will have it. success”. One is now very close to opening a new chapter with Great Britain. “And it is to be expected that we will have the final entry into force at the beginning of the new year after the vote in the European Parliament.”
Former British Prime Minister Theresa May was also delighted with the deal. The deal will help sustain trade, he wrote on Twitter. “I look forward to hearing the details in the next few days.”
His predecessor, David Cameron, congratulated the UK negotiating team on Twitter. It is good to end a difficult year with positive news. “The trade agreements are very welcome and are an important step in building a new relationship with the EU as friends, neighbors and partners.”
Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon of the Scottish National Party (SNP) was reserved. “There is no deal that can make up for what Brexit is taking from us. It is time to plan for our own future as an independent European nation.” Unlike England and Wales, the majority of Scots voted in the 2016 referendum for the UK to remain a member of the EU. Prime Minister Sturgeon calls for a second independence referendum after the failure of the 2014 referendum. The London government should agree, but says no.
According to French President Emmanuel Macron, the unity and strength of the European Union have paid off in negotiations with Great Britain. This can be seen, for example, in the compromise on fishing quotas, which are particularly important for French fishermen and which were controversial until recently. Macron writes on Twitter that the agreement is key to protecting French citizens, fishermen and producers. “France will make sure this happens.”
