May is touring in a desperate Mission through Europe

little more than two weeks ago, the Chancellor, with "some relief" celebrated a "diplomatic feat". In seemingly the last Minute of the 27 EU had agreed with the British Prime Minister Theresa May on the Text of the withdrawal agreement and the wording of a Declaration of intent for the period after the Brexit. For your relationships exuberant Angela Merkel praised, we have now an agreement, which allows for "a close partnership, and all in a spirit that implies tough negotiations, but always with the well-being of the other, the Success for the other eye". From the looks of it, it was too good to be true. At noon today May is back at Merkel on the Mat.

One day, after she has pulled in the brakes and the vote on the exit agreement moved, is touring in May in a desperate Mission through Europe. In the morning, when the Dutch Mark Rutte in The Hague, lunch with Merkel in Berlin, then continue to Brussels for dinner with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. "I remain convinced that the Brexit Deal, we have the best and only possible. There is no room for renegotiations, but further clarifications are possible," tweeted Juncker.

Merkel does not tweet. You would do it, she would have written the same. In the part of crazy negotiations with the British, she has kept on an iron rule: no extra trips, no side agreements. Nothing that would threaten the unified Front towards London.

In fact, the history of the relations between the changing British Prime Ministers and Merkel is a history of disappointments. Already Mays predecessor David Cameron had made a mistake in the German Chancellor. Cameron saw in her a natural ally, and believed that they would almost be willing to pay the price to keep Britain in the EU. It was true that Merkel would have kept the economically strong and militarily almost irreplaceable the UK in the EU. Cameron under-appreciated, but how much Merkel fell to the British concept of an "EU-Lite" to miss.

May believed, in turn, the interests of the German economy would bring Merkel on a soft course in the Brexit negotiations. Also proved to be a mistake. At Lunch in the Chancellery, it is also to test the mood. Renegotiations will not give it, a for May some extent a face-saving add-in Ireland perhaps.

by No means questioned in the so-called backstop. He ensures that the borders between Ireland and Northern Ireland remain on the market after Brexit permanently open. Merkel wants to hear what has to say May. And even then you will not rush ahead, but Juncker is the first of. The Front towards London. (Editorial Tamedia)

Created: 11.12.2018, 13:15 PM