In the course of Angela Merkel’s 22 visits to the UK in her 16 years as Chancellor, many things have changed. He was grateful that at least the English national soccer team had won against the German one. With this little swipe, the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson opened the press release with the German Chancellor yesterday. This had previously been received by the British Prime Minister at his country residence Checkers near London.
As for the European Football Championship, the heads of government disagreed on one point. In view of the tens of thousands of spectators in London’s Wembley Stadium, Merkel said when asked that she was “worried and skeptical whether this is good and not a bit much”. Johnson replied that football matches would be followed by scientific advice. UEFA plans to host the semi-finals and the final at Wembley in front of 45,000 and 60,000 spectators respectively.
“Wall of Immunity”
There is now a “wall of immunity” in Great Britain due to the corona vaccinations, said Johnson. There had recently been reports that thousands of infections are said to be related to the European Championship games.
The Chancellor was pleased about the extended negotiation period for the Northern Ireland Protocol. The extended period of three months for an agreement makes it possible to settle the differences “pragmatically”. The protocol is the most explosive part of the Brexit agreement: it aims to ensure that no hard border is created between Ireland and Northern Ireland by moving the customs border between the EU and the United Kingdom to the Irish Sea. Most recently, the EU and Great Britain agreed not to control food and agricultural exports to Northern Ireland for a further three months.
Johnson was convinced that after Brexit, the UK could deepen its relationship with Germany despite the tensions with the EU. “With good will and patience we can sort this out,” he said of the conflicts with the EU over special rules for Northern Ireland.
The government consultations, i.e. consultations between the heads of government and a large number of their ministers on key issues in the relations between the two countries, are to take place once a year. In addition, a “friendship or cooperation agreement is planned, which should map the entire breadth of relationships,” said Merkel. This is intended to open a new chapter after Brexit.
Private audience with the Queen
In the evening Merkel was received by Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle for a private audience. The Chancellor has already met the Queen six times during her term of office, most recently on the sidelines of the British G7 summit. There was excitement in 2009 when strict protocol guards criticized Merkel for appearing in a trouser suit at the reception at Buckingham Palace. At that time there was still an unwritten law according to which women should face the Queen in (at least) knee-length skirts or dresses.
