Whoever wants to be a member of the EU internal market, which must also be able to free movement for workers. This principle was set in stone. So far. But the so-called Brexit presents for Europe's politicians the big question, on what future relationship one can and should have with the British.
While the new Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday first deliberated after the summer break with her cabinet, other thoughts are being had in Brussels about the "squaring the circle": How London be more economically bound when the referendum has made it clear, that the British do not want to be part of free movement?
According to some leading politicians, the solution can only be a breaking of a taboo - at least in the eyes of the Brussels institutions. Allow access to the internal market, but at the same time the British from the pressure of having to allow EU workers into the country.
From the perspective of the Federal Government, it would be a big step. Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) had always insisted to ex-premier David Cameron that the principle of free movement must remain part of the overall package
What can the new EU system look like?
"We need to look for creative solutions, although based on principles, but which at the same are pragmatic", the CDU politician Norbert Röttgen told the "Die Welt". The chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Bundestag has co-authored an Institute Bruegel paper, reflecting on new forms of future cooperation.
"The British have rejected the unrestricted movement of workers, and thus the political project. But they want to participate in the commercial project of the Single Market. In the other three fundamental freedoms - for goods, capital and services, which must be accompanied by a necessary level of labour mobility"
But what can the new EU system look like? Röttgen and his co-authors suggest three different quality levels: The uppermost, at which the euro countries operate. A second for the entire EU. And to have a "third circle" for countries like the UK who have agreements with the EU, but do not take part in an overall project.
This concept would be exactly to the liking of "hard Brexiteers" in London. Those in the government who want at all costs who want no longer to be obliged to accept EU citizens. And can exert tremendous pressure on Premier May. She cannot make in the forthcoming negotiations any substantive concessions on free movement to the EU, because this was precisely the main reason for the victory of the Brexit camp.
May is in a dilemma
The Bruegel paper would solve Mays dilemma. But would such a big concession not be an EU own goal? Röttgen does not see the danger. "The price paid by a country in the third circle is high: it is allowed to join the single market, but it cannot make the rules. The power of legislation lies with the EU countries. My assessment is that none of the other 27 is considering taking British cherry-picking as the model and thus suffering such disadvantages. "
Neither the federal government nor the other EU countries in the face the crisis, which Europe is in, can be guided by taboos, according to Röttgen. Especially since the idea of a "third circle" is not a taboo because these countries – among which besides the UK, Switzerland or Turkey can be counted – would not be EU members.
Such concessions could however encounter resentment in German. Last weekend, the Allensbach opinion institute published a survey according to which 64 percent of German citizens demand withdrawing from the British the full benefits of EU membership. Only 18 percent are calling for a concession.
"The idea of wanting to punish the British for Brexit is absurd. Where is there a right to punish a people for a democratic decision? And what would that say about the EU? Is punishment shaping the future?" warns CDU member, Röttgen. "We can have no interest to the third largest economy and a leading country in Europe to have a relationship based on sanctions. In the face of a changing geopolitical environment, we must be interested in good cooperation."
Germany attractive for immigrants
Germany is highly attractive for immigrants from the EU. During last year 184,000 more Europeans switched to the UK than migrated, the net migration of EU-foreigners in Germany was 382,000, more than twice as high as detailed in the free movement monitoring of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF). Nevertheless, in Germany there is no serious voice that wants to stop the EU freedom of movement.
Overall, the EU internal migration runs mainly from Eastern to Western Europe. Germany is not only currently the most popular of the State according to Eurostat with 18.5 million EU migrants. Also, because the influx has increased every year since 2007, 4.1 million EU citizens now live in this country - far more than in the UK (3.1), France (2.2), Spain (2) and Italy (1.8).
However, immigrants from EU countries are discussed in a different context after the Federal Social Court decided in the spring in several judgements that EU foreigners after a stay of six months could receive social assistance.
Federal Labour Minister Andrea Nahles (SPD) responded in April with a draft law by which the EU foreigners only after five years of residence should be entitled to receive Hartz IV. It had been announced that the amendment would be agreed before the summer break by the Bundestag. But so far, the grand coalition has failed to do this.
Breughel paper- Europe after Brexit a proposal for a continental partnership
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