Brexiteers' belief that Germany will persuade Brussels to budge its position on Brexit is a "dream" which is "nothing to do with reality," according to one of the country's most senior EU politicians.

German MEP and long-time Angela Merkel ally Elmar Brok, who sits on the influential Brexit Steering Group, also said Germans reject the idea of any ideal that involves "cherry-picking" and violates the rules of Europe's single market.

"It's obviously the position in Germany that Brexit is no good, it's a lose-lose situation, and that the damage for the UK will be higher," he said.



LONDON — The popular belief among Brexit campaigners that German car manufacturers will ensure Britain gets a favourable trade deal with the EU is a "dream" which has "nothing to do with reality," according to one of the country's most senior EU politicians.

A study by Deloitte earlier this year warned that a hard Brexit, in which Britain failed to secure a preferential trade deal with the EU, could cost German car manufacturers up to €3.8 billion in lost revenue.

Brexit campaigners have suggested that this economic pressure will force German Chancellor Angela Merkel to intervene in Britain's favour.

However, German MEP Elmar Brok, a long-time ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who acts as the European Parliament's "Brexit-Sherpa" and sits on its influential Brexit Steering Group, told Business Insider that this theory was a "dream".

Speaking to BI ahead of a speech in which Theresa May told Brexiteers to face the "hard facts" of leaving the EU, Brok rejected the idea that Germany might lobby Brussels to soften its stance on Brexit under pressure from German car-makers like BMW and manufacturers who worry new barriers could damage trade.

"I think there's hope in Britain that at the end of the day, BMW will go to Ms Merkel and then they will change the position of Brussels," said Brok.

"It's a nice dream but it's nothing to do with reality."

He also said Germans were more concerned with preserving the single market than striking a generous Brexit deal, adding that the issue was barely spoken about during the last round of elections in Germany.

"Normal citizens tell me: 'Do what you want but no cherry-picking.' That is the popular concern," he said.

"Businesses say the unity and the integrity of the single market are more important than the Brexit question. But if you can make a deal — a good trade agreement — which tries to keep the damage down, then it's a positive thing."

"It's obviously the position in Germany that Brexit is no good, it's a lose-lose situation, and that the damage for the UK will be higher [than for Germany]," he said.

"Citizens say, 'Please try to make a deal which keeps the harm down as much as possible, but not one that violates the integrity of the single market.'"

May's speech on Friday was relatively well-received in Brussels, with EU leaders including chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier saying the prime minister had offered more clarity on her Brexit position.

But the finer details of a future trade deal are likely to remain hotly contested between the UK and EU. May agreed with Cabinet colleagues last week to seek a system of "managed divergence" in which Britain takes back control of regulations but maintains equivalent high standards in key areas.

Brok said a "managed divergence" approach would be "difficult" because most trade deals are created on the premise of convergence, rather than the opposite.

"Normally when you arrange a trade agreement, standards come closer together," he said.

"This time the standards [would] begin close together, equally, and then they will divide. That is a very difficult process to manage."