Federal foreign Minister Heiko Maas says the Irish-German solidarity in times of Brexit – even in the contentious border issue on the island of Ireland. Fabian von der Mark, Dublin.
It is a visit to a special point in time: a week before the British Parliament votes on the Brexit agreement, the German foreign Minister in the Irish capital, Dublin. It is also for moral support because nowhere in the European Union, the fear of the consequences of Brexit is not as large as in Ireland. Nowhere is the Problem is so close, so threatening.
Heiko Maas listens to the Concerns and says his Irish colleague Simon Coveney, in his speech before Ireland’s ambassadors of the solidarity of Germany and the EU. During the negotiations with the UK, the EU demonstrated Unity. This unity and solidarity promises to Maas, the Irish in the last hot Phase of the Brexit negotiations. Just in the particularly sensitive issue of the border.
For the good Friday agreement, against a fixed limit
As one of the largest Brexit problems has directly to do with Ireland, with the border between the EU country, Ireland, and the British part of the island, Northern Ireland. Only in 1989, in the so-called good Friday agreement, it was regulated that, after years of fight and Terror, no fortified border between the two countries. This open border to the EU and Ireland.
The open border between Ireland and Northern Ireland had the Brexit negotiations, the highest priority for Ireland
Foreign Minister Maas argues with German history: “As a German, we understand threaten, such as walls and boundaries of peace,” says Maas in Dublin. A hard limit on the island of Ireland is “unacceptable”, the German foreign Minister. Also his Irish colleague emphasized the importance of “return to never the divisions of the past”. The good Friday agreement was a “great Irish, British and European achievement”.
An unregulated Brexit is for Ireland to be a security risk
However, in Ireland the fear of what might come after the Brexit. The British Prime Minister, Theresa May should lose next week in the Parliament in London, the vote on the withdrawal agreement, threatens to be a hard Brexit, so an unregulated exit from the European Union. The UK would be in the case of a third state, between Ireland and Northern Ireland, the EU would limit foreign: tariffs, barriers, and border controls could return. For Ireland, this Situation would be a high security risk.
Therefore, Heiko Maas is calling on the British members of Parliament, the long-negotiated Brexit-agreements to agree: “We urge our British friends to act responsible.” A withdrawal of Britain without an agreement would damage all of The EU, and the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Federal Republic of Germany. A so-called No-Deal-outlet would want to for Germany for the economic disadvantages, which is why the Federal government in this case, “under all circumstances” prevent, Maas.
Foreign Minister Coveney and Maas: “A hard limit is unacceptable,”
Also, the Irish foreign Minister makes it clear that in these “days of destiny and weeks” in British politics, the time for realism dawned was. Hope some of the Brits, on the “unrealistic options” had to be over, so Coveney. A few “clarifications” were still possible, but Basic could be the present agreement. In the border issue: The be no Irish Position, but the EU Position.
Heiko Maas is further possible concessions to the UK are very cautious and warns against false hopes in London Who set out to get to a Fail next week, a better basis for negotiation of a “an extremely large risk,” says Maas. Because in the German foreign Ministry, no one likes to predict what might happen then.
No matter what happens, Heiko Maas assured the Irish Minister of foreign Affairs: On the close friend Germany was leaving.