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Merkel Says 'Confident' Brexit Deal Is 'Good Outcome'


Thu 24 Dec 2020 | 08:42 PM
Omnia Ahmed

German Chancellor Angela Merkel stated, Thursday, she was "confident" that the agreement between the EU and the United Kingdom was a "good outcome."

European leaders welcomed the Brexit deal, reached with the United Kingdom on Thursday, as it appeared to satisfy many of the demands made by Brussels and London following four years of tough negotiations.

"We will quickly be able to determine whether Germany can support today's result of the negotiations," Merkel said in a statement, adding that her cabinet would meet in a telephone conference on Monday to review the accord.

"I am very confident that we have a good result," Merkel, who holds the rotating EU presidency until the end of the year, added, noting that it was of "historic importance" that the bloc and Britain had managed to reach an agreement on their future ties.

"Even outside the European Union, Britain will remain an important partner for Germany and the European Union," Merkel asserted.

"With this deal, we create the basis for a new chapter in our relations," she said. "Even outside the European Union, Britain will remain an important partner for Germany and the European Union."

The president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen also expressed her happiness towards the agreement.

"We have finally found an agreement," von der Leyen said.

“It was a long and winding road but we have got a deal to show for it," she said. “It is fair, it is a balanced deal and it is the right and responsible thing to do for both sides."

[embed]https://twitter.com/vonderleyen/status/1342122999206576129?s=08[/embed]

"It was worth fighting for this deal. We now have a fair & balanced agreement with the UK,” she said in a tweet. “It will protect our EU interests, ensure fair competition & provide predictability for our fishing communities. Europe is now moving on."

On his part, French President Emmanuel Macron praised the EU for the tough stance it took in negotiations which led to a successful deal.

[embed]https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron/status/1342137139354546182?s=08[/embed]

"Europe's unity and firmness paid off,” Macron tweeted, adding that "the agreement with the United Kingdom is essential to protect our citizens, our fishermen, our producers. We will make sure that this will be the case."