Brexit briefing: German lessons for Brexiters

Two publications will help readers to form an idea of Germany's attitude to Brexit. One is “Berlin to the Rescue?”, a paper written by Sophia Besch and Christian Odendahl for the Centre for European Reform think-tank. The other is “Berlin Rules”, a book by Sir Paul Lever, Britain’s ambassador to Germany from 1997 to 2003. ...Ms Besch and Mr Odendahl make the point: “Germany will be neither a hardliner nor particularly accommodating in the Brexit talks ...Berlin wants to preserve the EU and make sure that the EU-27 stick to a unified position; it considers disintegration of the EU the biggest Brexit risk. ... In Germany’s view, Brexit is geopolitical vandalism.”