GERMANY’S ambassador to the UK has said the country could benefit from a Turkey-style deal with the European Union.
Speaking at the British Chambers of Commerce on Thursday morning, ambassador Miguel Berger said that the UK should seek a customs union deal with Brussels.
He said: “When we have the review next year, we can obviously look into possibilities where we can cut red tape.
“But let me really also mention Turkey has for more than 20 years a customs union with the European Union.
“So that would obviously also be a way to move forward, which would ease many, many things in the trade relationship.”
Berger said that while the UK-EU Trade and Co-operation Agreement was the “the most sophisticated and far-reaching trade agreement which exists in the world”, the German diplomat said that both sides had “not used the potential … as it exists right now”, according to Politico.
He added: “Between our governments, between our chambers of commerce, we can do much more to strengthen the business-to-business ties.”
Berger said that Germany’s plans to unlock a €500 billion defence and infrastructure fund, in light of American pressure on Europe to rearm, promised “huge business opportunities” for the UK and EU countries.
The UK and EU are set to hold their first summit on May 19, which could spark a reset in relations between London and Brussels.
European Council President Antonio Costa said in February that the talks would focus on devising the “the closest relationship it will be possible to build together”.
Labour have previously ruled out a return to freedom of movement, rejoining the customs union or the single market.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper last month said that rejoining the customs union was a “red line” but wanted to “get rid of some of the bureaucracy” across borders, indicating a desire to see another type of customs deal.
But Berger’s comments have sparked calls for Labour to abandon their pro-Brexit stance.
Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie (above) said that Brexit was “an act of financial and political folly that has hiked up prices, punished small businesses and curbed our right to live, work and study in Europe”.
He added: “Keir Starmer knows this all too well, but he seems to have forgotten that he was one of those who led the campaign to stop it.
“Joining the customs union would definitely undo some of the damage, but I fear that Labour will continue to dance to Nigel Farage's tune.
“One of the many reasons Scotland needs independence is so that we can rejoin the EU and regain the benefits that we lost through Tory and Labour governments doubling down on such a disastrous Brexit.”
