A prominent member of Germany’s governing Social Democratic Party (SPD) has advocated for stronger connections between the UK and the European Union, citing growing concerns that the Brexit divide is hindering attempts to address global issues such as mass migration.
Former leader of the SPD and candidate for German chancellor, Martin Schulz, emphasized the importance of establishing regular meetings, referred to as “structured dialogue” in EU terminology, in order to strengthen the relationship between the UK and the EU, as well as Germany.
Possible rewording:
This may involve frequent communication between government officials and citizens to discuss shared policy concerns, outside the scope of the EU. In an interview with the Observer, Schulz stated that there has been a growing gap between EU member states and its institutions, as well as the UK, over the past few years.
A prominent figure in German and European politics, Schulz served as president of the European parliament from 2012 to 2017. Following a two-day trip to London, he emphasized the significance of the UK and EU working towards a closer relationship, not just in terms of economy and institutions, but also culturally and for the benefit of younger generations.
According to him, the possibility of a Labour government presents an opportunity for a more lasting relationship between the UK and the EU.
He stated that it was crucial for the EU and UK to collaborate and find a way to fairly distribute immigrants. This would require mutual understanding and close cooperation.
He proposed that the failure to address immigration concerns has contributed to the rise of the right-wing anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany party, which currently holds over 20% support in polls.
Recently, Ursula von der Leyen, the current president of the European Commission from Germany, expressed her belief that the UK could potentially rejoin the EU in the future. This comes as discussions in Brussels shift towards the end of the Conservative party’s reign in the UK government. When asked about the possibility of the UK rejoining, she replied, “I often remind my children to fix things. We, as European leaders, made a mistake and it’s up to them to fix it. In my personal opinion, the direction we are heading is clear.”
Although Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s spokesperson quickly dismissed Von der Leyen’s comments, stating that Brexit has provided the UK with new freedoms that it is currently benefiting from, there are indications that some senior members of the Conservative party are interested in improving relations with the EU amidst an uncertain global and economic climate. Both UK and EU politicians and diplomats are beginning to realize that with Donald Trump seeking reelection, it may be in the best interest of both parties to rebuild their relationship rather than continue to distance themselves. Recently, former Prime Minister David Cameron, who called for the 2016 Brexit referendum, returned to Brussels for the first time since the UK’s departure and met with Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič.
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After the UK’s departure from the EU, Schulz noted a decline in Germany’s interest in Britain. However, the UK’s involvement in Nato and its backing of Ukraine served as a reminder of its significance as an ally.
The German embassy in London expressed worry to Schulz about a significant decrease in interactions between towns and cities in the UK and Germany that were connected through twinning agreements. Schulz shared that there are currently 450 twin town partnerships between the two countries, but also noted that there has been a 75% decline in activities.
This issue was part of a larger problem. He stated, “The interaction between groups such as journalists, scientists, and youth through initiatives like Erasmus, which fosters mutual understanding, is decreasing.”
According to Schulz, there are many individuals in the UK, specifically within the Tory party, who believe in the idea of self-sufficiency. However, Schulz’s perspective is fundamentally dissimilar. He believes that being alone makes one vulnerable, but together, we are powerful.
Source: theguardian.com
