German AfD Party Skeptical About Benefits EU-UK Deal Offers To Germany

German AfD Party Skeptical About Benefits EU-UK Deal Offers to Germany

The Alternative for Germany party (AfD) is skeptical about benefits to Germany of the agreement that the European Union and the United Kingdom reached on December 24, fearing that the deal may potentially add to the financial burden of German taxpayers, Albert Breininger, a party member, told Sputnik

MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 30th December, 2020) The Alternative for Germany party (AfD) is skeptical about benefits to Germany of the agreement that the European Union and the United Kingdom reached on December 24, fearing that the deal may potentially add to the financial burden of German taxpayers, Albert Breininger, a party member, told Sputnik.

"There are of course different views, there are winners and losers from both sides, time will tell who won and who lost in this battle. What causes the most concerns for us is the fact that Merkel praised the agreement calling it historical, this is always alarming, because usually after such words, German taxpayers have to fork out," Breininger said.

On Friday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that the agreement reached between the European Union and the United Kingdom was "of historical importance," adding that she was confident that the result of negotiations was good. The German chancellor also pointed out that Berlin would examine the deal to decide whether it fully supports the result.

AfD's Breininger said that only time will tell who would benefit from the agreement, noting that it had come just in time to enable a passage to a new legal framework without disrupting relations after the transition period ends on December 31.

"It's good that we agreed. A lean peace better than a fat victory," he concluded.

Rather than face the prospect of conducting business on World Trade Organization terms, which would have included the imposition of tariffs, the UK and the EU agreed to a deal that covers 660 billion Pounds ($889 billion) of trade annually, without tariffs or quotas.

Alongside the landmark trade deal, the agreement between London and Brussels also brings in new migration rules, an end to the United Kingdom's participation in the Erasmus+ university exchange program, and establishes the future field of play for commercial fishing.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, have both praised the agreement, calling it fair and balanced, although some observers have been keen to pass judgment on which party they think got the upper hand at the negotiating table.