Tag: Norbert Röttgen

Speaking to the Guardian, Röttgen, a prominent member of Angela Merkel’s CDU governing party, said both sides needed to make concessions to reach an agreement if a catastrophic no-deal was to be avoided. Brussels rejects Theresa May's plea to break Brexit deadlock Read more He said: “In my opinion and from the outside, the only way Britain is to reach a reconciliation and end these deep divisions through society is if it holds a referendum in which no one can say, after two years of deep discussion, they did not know the consequences of Brexit. Very few knew the full consequences of Brexit after the first referendum.” He said he supported a three-choice referendum in which voters chose between the government deal, a no-deal Brexit and remaining in the European Union. It will be remembered after the party conference. It matters that the foreign secretary shows responsibility in his language. He is one of the most senior figures in government and responsibility is required.” In one of the first signs that Germany may be willing to take up at least part of Theresa May’s Chequers proposals, Röttgen said the EU should be prepared to give the UK access to the single market in relation to goods, but not services, in return for the UK accepting EU rules and the customs union for goods. Tories fight over what's left of their stash | John Crace Read more He said the EU could in return offer unspecified concessions on free movement. It is a position on which the EU has to change to find compromise. There has been growing concern in UK government circles that Merkel, weakened at home, is deferring to a harder-line France in the talks, making it more difficult to persuade the German chancellor to assert her instinct for a pragmatic compromise. European leaders thought Theresa May’s approach of either Chequers or no-deal was inappropriate.