The UK could retain "special status" with the European Union when it negotiates a post-Brexit deal, a German minister has said.

Michael Roth, Germany's European Affairs minister, told Reuters that despite claims the UK shouldn't get a special deal, it may be able to negotiate itself a special status due to its size and long-term membership of the EU.

While Mr Roth reinforced German Chancellor Angela Merkel's warning that the UK won't be able to "cherry-pick" during negotiations, he wants the relationship between the EU and an independent UK to be "as close as possible".

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He said: "Given Britain's size, significance and its long membership of the European Union, there will probably be a special status which only bears limited comparison to that of countries that have never belonged to the European Union."


One of the big unknowns surrounding the UK's exit from the EU involves whether Britain can retain access to the single market without freedom of movement.

Mr Roth said he "can't imagine" the UK would be allowed to keep its access to the single market while demanding restrictions on freedom of movement.