"Now, in particular, when the time has come to hammer out the details of the UK’s departure from the EU but also to determine the future of the 27 member states, Germany and Ireland are cooperating very closely," declared Chancellor Angela Merkel in a statement prior to her meeting with Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny.

Ireland is particularly hard hit by Brexit

"Naturally we intend to approach these negotiations in a constructive spirit," stressed Angela Merkel referring to the Brexit negotiations that are to begin soon. She declared her wish to remain good partners with the UK. "We need one another."

Ireland is very directly affected by the UK’s decision to leave the European Union, said Angela Merkel. That is why she wanted, in particular, to discuss Ireland’s expectations with the Taoiseach. It is a question of economic commitments on the one hand, but also of security and peace, said Angela Merkel, with a view to the situation in Northern Ireland.

Ireland joined the European Union in 1973. Membership has brought Ireland advantages over and above the purely economic benefits. The fact that Ireland and the UK were both members of the European Union encouraged progress on the peace process in Northern Ireland. Ireland is not currently part of the Schengen Area, primarily because of its open border to Northern Ireland.

Interest in a strong EU post-Brexit

The Irish Prime Minister last visited Berlin in July 2016, shortly after the Brexit referendum. At that time the Chancellor stressed that both Ireland and Germany have a great interest in ensuring that the EU remains strong. The two leaders discussed European unification and the prospects of the 27 members states in the wake of Brexit.

On 29 March, the UK government officially notified the EU of its intention to leave. The member states are currently examining the guidelines proposed by the European Council for exit negotiations. "Now it is obviously up to us, the 27 other member states and the European institutions, to define our own interests and goals on that basis. That is why we will be discussing our negotiating guidelines over the weeks to come," said the Chancellor.

The guidelines for the Brexit negotiations are to be discussed by the 27 member states and adopted at a special meeting of the European Council scheduled for 29 April. The United Kingdom will not be attending this meeting.