Germany's "Mittelstand" of small and medium-sized firms (SMEs) could lose billions of euros if the UK is shut out of the single market, an industry representative has warned. The boss of the BVMW, which represents more than 270,000 SMEs, told the BBC "a hard Brexit would harm both sides". Mario Ohoven added that negotiations should be "guided by economic sense and not by political ideologues". The remarks diverge from the position taken by other leading German voices.
German Mittelstand wants 'soft Brexit' - BBC News
Now that the prime minister has triggered article 50, the biggest economic risk facing the UK would be leaving the European Union with no deal at all. Some members of the cabinet have said we should prepare for such an eventuality. I am concerned, as are MPs from across the political divide, that this extreme form of Brexit is being talked about with increasing fervour by those who favour a fundamental rupture with Europe.
Crashing out of the EU without a deal would be a disaster | Nicky Morgan | Opinion | The Guardian