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Chancellor Angela Merkel in Brussels on December 10th
Photo: Olivier Matthys / dpa
After the agreement between London and Brussels on a post-Brexit trade agreement, the German government definitely wants to achieve a provisional entry into force on January 1, 2021.
"We finally saw white smoke rising from the negotiations, but the agreement is not yet finalized," said Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) on Thursday in Berlin.
"As the Council Presidency, we want to do everything we can to ensure that the agreement can come into force provisionally on January 1st, 2021."
Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) declared that the federal government would now intensively examine the text of the agreement.
It will quickly become clear »whether Germany can support today's negotiation result.
I am very confident that we have a good result here, ”said Merkel.
The Chancellor stressed that the agreement on future relations between the European Union and Great Britain was "of historical importance".
This is »the basis for a new chapter in our relationships.
Great Britain will continue to be an important partner for Germany and the European Union outside of the European Union. "
According to the Chancellor, the members of the Federal Cabinet will agree on the German position at 9:30 a.m. on Monday.
The European Council will then decide on the agreement and its provisional application.
The agreement can only finally enter into force if the European Parliament has also approved it.
Foreign Minister Maas pointed out that a provisional entry into force on January 1 would now require a great deal of flexibility from all sides.
“But I am confident that it will work.
We are now very close to a solution with which we can finally overcome the Brexit discussion and open a new chapter with Great Britain. «The final entry into force after the vote in the European Parliament will hopefully be achieved early in the new year.
Great Britain left the EU on February 1, but the country will remain in the EU internal market and the customs union until the end of the year.
The breakthrough came with the agreement on future relations on Christmas Eve just a week before the deadline.
Previously, the negotiations between London and Brussels had stalled for months.
Airbus welcomes the agreement
The European aircraft manufacturer Airbus is relieved to have concluded the Brexit trade pact.
"Airbus welcomes the news that an agreement between the EU and the United Kingdom has been found," said Airbus boss Guillaume Faury on Thursday, according to a company statement.
As a spokesman added, the consequences for the aviation business still have to be examined.
But the group is pleased that the scenario of a break with Great Britain has been avoided.
The corona crisis hit aviation harder than few other industries.
Because of the pandemic and travel restrictions, the demand for flight tickets has largely collapsed.
According to earlier information, Airbus had cut its aircraft production by around 40 percent.
Macron: "Stability has paid off"
French head of state Emmanuel Macron also welcomed the agreement on the Brexit trade pact between the EU and Great Britain.
"The European unity and stability have paid off," said the 43-year-old on Thursday via Twitter.
France often followed a hardline line in the Brexit tussle.
“The agreement with the United Kingdom is important to protect our citizens, our fishermen and our producers,” Macron continued.
One will now convince oneself whether this is really the case.
"Europe is making progress and can look forward to a united, independent and strong future," said Macron.
France had long insisted on the protection of its fishermen during the negotiations.
The industry has a high symbolic value in the country.
According to information from the daily newspaper "Le Parisien", Macron is said to have slowed down the preparation of the pact last weekend - it was mainly about fishing.
No information was given officially.
Economists relieved
Economists see with relief that a hard economic break at the turn of the year was probably averted at the last minute.
The most important point of the agreement is to avoid tariffs, allow unlimited trade in both directions and limit frictional losses as much as possible.
"I am very relieved about this last-minute agreement," said Gabriel Felbermayr, President of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
»The fact that there will now be no tariffs and quantity restrictions in trade between Great Britain and the EU is clearly better than if the general rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO) had been traded without a deal.
But how good the solution really is depends on the details, the analysis of which is just beginning. "
Uwe Burkert, Chief Economist and Head of LBBW Research, commented on the agreement: “A Eureka moment.
Finally.
An agreement that should not hide the fact that only the very worst was avoided.
But at least.
Breakups always hurt.
But like any good divorce, respectful coexistence should be ensured afterwards.
It is good for the economy when common sense is finally determined again. ”The importance of this agreement for Europe can be read from the exchange rate of the British pound and the euro to the US dollar.
For Achim Wambach, President of the Leibniz Center for European Economic Research (ZEW) in Mannheim, it is »a relief that the back and forth over the exit agreement and the trade agreement has finally come to a conclusion.
The uncertainty is over.
With the conclusion of the agreement there is now more predictability and security for future trade relations between the EU and the United Kingdom. "
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