Priorities, sensitivities, anxieties – German and central European perceptions of Brexit

It is important to underline the likely influence of national figures in key member states and groups of member states on the process of Brexit. In this discussion, the results of private seminars held with policy-makers in Germany and Bratislava (involving representatives of Slovakia, Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary – the so-called Visegrád group of countries, or V4) are presented.

There are very significant obstacles standing in the way of a mutually beneficial outcome of the Brexit process. While each of the countries recognises the potential usefulness of bilateral and multilateral links in the future, and that the UK is leaving the European Union, not the continent of Europe, the UK’s “red lines” will make it very hard to achieve a positive deal.

By Dr Ed Turner and Professor Simon Green from Aston university.