UK-EU trade deal unlikely to be negotiated within two years, alongside Brexit: German official
A trade deal between the UK and European Union is unlikely to be negotiated within two years, alongside Brexit negotiations, a German official has said, while sounding cautiously optimistic over the issue of citizens’ rights.
Stephan Mayer, the home affairs spokesman for Angela Merkel’s party, said it would be ambitious to think a trade deal could be concluded within a two-year period.
However, he suggested the issue of citizens’ rights could be easier to resolve. His comments come after Theresa May told EU leaders she wanted an early agreement on the status of Britons living on the continent and EU citizens resident in the UK.
Mayer told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I have much sympathy and understanding for this British position.
“Certainly more than 1 million British citizens live in the other 27 member states, so that is a very decisive issue for the UK government and certainly the other way around; more than 300,000 German citizens, for instance, are living in the UK, so I think we have the same interests.”
The German politician said it was “a little bit naive” to think a trade deal could be achieved in two years.
Mayer told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I have much sympathy and understanding for this British position.
“Certainly more than 1 million British citizens live in the other 27 member states, so that is a very decisive issue for the UK government and certainly the other way around; more than 300,000 German citizens, for instance, are living in the UK, so I think we have the same interests.”
The German politician said it was “a little bit naive” to think a trade deal could be achieved in two years.
The Irish taoiseach, Enda Kenny, revealed May’s comments after the European Council meeting in Brussels, telling reporters that the prime minister updated her fellow leaders about the supreme court case on article 50 and her hope for a deal on EU nationals.
“She would like to have the question of UK citizens living in Europe and European citizens living in the UK dealt with in the early part of discussions that take place,” he said.
