German views on the Brexit timeline

The feasibility of negotiating exit from the EU as well as rolling over existing EU Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) are among the most discussed topics regarding Brexit. Former Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Pascal Lamy recently said at Asia House that he expects the UK’s “full exit” from the EU to probably take a decade to complete.

Germany seeks a rather pragmatic approach towards Brexit, driven by the business community. Dr. Andreas Dombret, executive board member for the German Central Bank, has told the BBC that the vote to leave should not be used as an excuse to penalise the City of London.

Sigmar Gabriel, Germany’s Foreign Minister, however said in an interview with The Independent that he has doubts on Theresa May’s insistence that both a Brexit divorce deal and a new FTA with the EU can be completed by 2019. New trade relations would be “a laborious endeavour”, suggesting the UK may have to settle for simply getting “as far as we can” in the two years allowed for talks.

Similar views were given by Frank Walter Steinmeier, President of Germany, who spoke at the European Parliament on 4 April. “Europe is complicated but worth the effort”, said Steinmeier.