Theresa May’s two-year Brexit timetable may in fact be too ambitious a target, a German home affairs spokesman has told the BBC.
Stephan Mayer said in comments to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that it was “a little bit naive” to expect a trade deal to be achieved within Theresa May’s stated two-year period.
Mr Mayer drew similarities between Germany and the UK’s position, emphasizing the shared interests of the countries with regards to Brexit negotiations and a prospective deal.
“I have much sympathy and understanding for this British position,” he added.
“Certainly more than 1 million British citizens live in the other 27 member states, so that is a very decisive issue for the UK government and certainly the other way around; more than 300,000 German citizens, for instance, are living in the UK, so I think we have the same interests.”
“There is a clear German position – we want negotiations on a level playing field and certainly we would like Great Britain to stay as a very important pillar within the single market and contribute to the single market.”
Given the many aspects to negotiate in order to finalise the UK’s political divorce from the EU, Mr Mayer added: “I think it is very ambitious to finish these negotiations within two years.”
Theresa May has proposed a March 2017 deadline by which to trigger Article 50 and exit the European Union. However a UK supreme court decision dealt the government a significant blow in November when it ruled that a parliamentary vote would have to go ahead before beginning the process. The government is currently in the process of appealing the decision.
This follows Wednesday’s EU summit in Brussels, in which leaders met to discuss Brexit negotiations as well as issues facing the politico-economic union. Theresa May briefed leaders on the progress of the supreme court appeal case, and the remaining 27 leaders discussed their approach to the negotiations after her departure.