HUNDREDS of thousands of European Union citizens are at risk from a no-deal Brexit, sending shockwaves throughout the bloc, a shock new study has revealed.
From that number, 179,000 live in the EU. Germany would be most significantly impacted, with 100,000 jobs under threat if Britain tumbles out of the EU without a deal.
British imports from the EU would plummet by 25 percent in such a scenario, but Germany’s lucrative motor sector would suffer significant damage.
Germany sold 770,000 vehicles to the UK in 2017, with 15,000 jobs - one percent of the total working population - reliant on this famous trading area.
Wolfsburg, home to Volkswagen and BMW, would feel the brunt of a no-deal Brexit, with 500 jobs or 0.4 percent of the workforce in the German city under threat.
In no other country is the effect on total employment as great as in Germany, where around 100,000 people are affected. The employment effects of a hard Brexit would be noticeable above all at the automobile locations
"The employment effects of a hard Brexit would be noticeable above all at the automobile locations.”
Last year, the Volkswagen Group delivered 10.83 million vehicles to customers around the world - up by around 90,000 vehicles from the year before.
In 2017, the German sector had an annual output of six million and a 31.5 percent share of the European Union.
Brexiters have warned the the country’s car industry will put pressure on Angela Merkel to ensure the UK gets a favourable deal due to the high risk threatening the lucrative manufacturing sector.
But the industry has continued to throw its support behind the German Chancellor and has so far supported the Government’s Brexit stance.
German auto industry association VDA, which represents the likes of BMW, Volkswagen and Mercedezx-Benz parent Daimler, said: "The consequences of a no deal would be fatal.
“Without an orderly and practical solution for business, jobs in the car industry, particularly on the British side, are on the line.”
BMW, which builds 60 percent of its Mini cars at a plant in Oxford, warned: "Uncertainty is not good for business.
We must therefore continue to prepare for the worst-case scenario, which is what a no-deal Brexit would represent.
"We strongly urge all relevant stakeholders to do everything possible in order to establish much needed certainty for our business and to maintain the truly frictionless trade on which our international production network is based.”
The study found 726 jobs would be at risk in the Swabian district of Böblingen, where technology giants including IBM and Siemens are based.
Elsewhere, the research found 50,000 jobs in France would also be under threat in the event of a no-deal Brexit, while in Austria, 6,000 jobs would be at risk.
But despite the fears for Germany amongst other countries, the findings revealed a no-deal Brexit would impact Ireland and Malta most.
The report warned around 1.7 percent of Maltese and one percent of Irish workers could be left unemployed if Britain and the EU fail to agree on a deal.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1085621/brexit-news-latest-no-deal-brexit-europe-job-losses-european-union?
Also:
Merkel urges EU and UK to find Brexit compromise (21 January 2019)
Germany to UK: We will miss you, please stay (24 January 2019)
With creativity, we can find Northern Ireland solution, Merkel says (4 February 2019)
Merkel says 'still time' to find Brexit solution (05 February 2019)
Also:
Merkel urges EU and UK to find Brexit compromise (21 January 2019)
Germany to UK: We will miss you, please stay (24 January 2019)
With creativity, we can find Northern Ireland solution, Merkel says (4 February 2019)
Merkel says 'still time' to find Brexit solution (05 February 2019)
