UK
The German fear of being alone
Like no other head of government has sought to Angela Merkel to keep the UK in the EU. And not only the Chancellor. No wonder, then, lose in the case of a Brexit Germany is an important Partner.
German politicians do not want to interfere normally in the British debate. They fear that this would tend to strengthen the camp of the outlet supporter. But in the meantime, since according to recent polls, a Brexit seems quite possible, in Berlin, a certain amount of panic wide. The Federal government is the Express wish that the British would remain.
Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel warned in the beginning of the month prior to the dramatic economic and political consequences for both sides, should leave the British to the EU. German Chancellor Angela Merkel tried to be positive and said: “I personally wish the UK to remain part of the EU.”
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Three questions, three answers to the Brexit: Out or not out, that is the question
The German MEP David McAllister, who also has British citizenship, writes to the Deutsche Welle: “A European Union without the United Kingdom would certainly be no better EU. The British are traditionally a driving force in questions of the internal market, issues of free trade. You have an excellent diplomatic service, and they have a very strong armed forces. All of these are good arguments, that the UK remains in the EU.”
The great majority of the German population wants to have the British remain in the EU. In one of the DW commissioned infratest-dimap poll in April, the 78 percent of the respondents wanted. It was the highest value among the five European Nations including the UK.
Survey in April: anglophile German
Common Values
The ruling Conservatives in the UK are split regarding the EU membership. But there is a lot of sympathy for the German government under Chancellor Angela Merkel, and to Germany in General. Martin Callanan, a past Chairman of the group of the European Conservatives and reformists group in the European Parliament and today a member of the house of lords, once said in the DW-Interview: “Merkel, Cameron on a number of important questions is very close. In economic matters, when it comes to open markets and free trade and the need for strict budgetary policy, we have been Conservative a lot of with Berlin.”
Callanan even saw a kind of natural Alliance. The United Kingdom and Germany “will always be more to the two leaders in Northern Europe, while France, the spiritual leader of southern Europe”. France, with its State interventionism and competition-oriented Germany were geographical neighbors, Callanan, “but they are no more ideological neighbors”.
A sign of the close personal relationships that Merkel was invited with her husband once in Cameron’s residence, Chequers, and the Chancellor, the whole family Cameron Vice-versa on a weekend to Schloss Meseberg invited. This honor was bestowed upon the French President, François Hollande, neither in the UK nor in Germany, although France is considered as the closest partners of Germany.
“A lot of British think the Germans would have lost your brain.”
Turning Point Refugee Crisis
But that was before the refugee crisis. And the totally opposite handling Merkel’s and Cameron’s in this issue has destroyed much of the Commonality. While Merkel is operating an open-door policy and refugees was photographed, refused to give Cameron the migrants of Calais, desperately trying to come to the UK, categorically denied the entry.
Also in the Brexit debate in the UK, the issue of unwanted immigration plays a crucial role. The outlet proponents keep mentioning Merkel’s policy as a cautionary tale. The British historian Anthony Glees said in the autumn, at the peak of the uncontrolled influx in the Germany radio: “a Lot of British think the Germans would have lost your brain.” The British should speak out a majority for leaving the EU, would be the refugee crisis, and Merkel’s dealing with no unimportant factor.
Is Germany a Brexit, only the number of master?
What if?
It should come as a matter of fact, most of the experts predictions on both sides of the channel have negative economic consequences for the UK. But what a British exit of the EU and specifically with the Germans in the EU would make? Michael Kunert is managing Director of infratest dimap, conducted by the DW-survey. He believes one reason why so many Germans see the British like to continue in the EU, is “that an outlet would also be a Signal for a further disintegration of the EU” that the UK would only be the first Domino for a General disintegration of the Union.
In any case, Germany would lose a Partner in the struggle for more economic and financial stability. Europe would be “southern”. Guntram Wolff, Director of Brussels think tank Bruegel, suggests the fears in the Berlin government quarter in the case of a British exit: “We will have to pay with all the output-friendly Mediterranean countries are left alone with their preference for redistribution, and we will for you. This is the great fear.”