GERMAN business chiefs have warned Angela Merkel they will be left “staring into the abyss” if there’s a No Deal Brexit.
In a boost for Theresa May, the powerful BDI industry group predicted the country’s economic growth could be slashed by a third this year in the event of a UK crash-out.
Their dire warning came as France announced it is activating plans to keep goods and people moving between Calais and Dover if there’s no deal.
And separately Holland warned Amsterdam’s economy faces a £900 million hit from a No Deal.
BDI chief Dieter Kempf said: “We are moving dangerously close to a chaotic Brexit.
“It has to be clear to everyone that the UK could in a matter of weeks become a third country for the EU.
“That would mean one of our closest trading partners would fall behind countries such as Turkey, South Korea and Ghana in terms of the rules that govern our economic relationship.”
He said a growth prediction of 1.5% for the German economy this year could be reduced to 1% if there’s “massive disruption in trade” with the UK.
But Mr Kempf warned Theresa May’s deal “can’t be renegotiated” and “it’s the UK’s turn to move” to avoid no deal.
Germany is one of the EU countries worst exposed to a No Deal.
The nation’s companies have £105 billion of investments in the UK and trade in goods and services with Britain is estimated to be worth £154 billion a year.
His comments came as French PM Edouard Philippe unveiled £44 million of no deal funding for ports and airports as well as 600 extra officials.
He said the measures, which have been ramped up after MPs rejected Mrs May’s deal, will ensure France is “up to the challenges” of more checks.
Speaking in Paris yesterday, Mr Philippe warned that a no deal Brexit is now “less and less unlikely” due to turmoil in the Commons.
In response he kicked off a process that will see five new laws adopted to prepare the country, which is also heavily exposed to a crash out.
Extra measures will be put in place to prop up its fishing industry, which faces the prospect of losing access to UK waters in just over two months.
He said: “The responsibility of the government is that our country is ready, that the interests of our citizens are preserved and defended.”
Also yesterday the Commission announced it is dispatching its second most senior official to EU capitals to help them prepare for no deal.
A spokesman said the bloc was “taking no chances” after MPs rejected the deal.
He said: “We are taking this very seriously now as the possibility of no deal is becoming more possible after Tuesday night.”
Addressing MPs in Portugal, chief negotiator Michel Barnier added: “If there is no deal there will be contingency measures.
“But that will be very difficult and will not be done in a climate of confidence. The best guarantee is reaching an agreement.”
The announcement came as Belgium became the latest country to promise British citizens they can stay even if we leave without a deal on March 29.
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MEPs’ Brexit boss Guy Verhofstadt, a former PM of the country, welcomed the move to protect Brits “even in an irresponsible no deal Brexit”.
He said: “The EU Parliament will continue to push for this to be an EU-wide initiative.”
But Belgium’s finance ministry warned four out of five businesses in the country who trade with Britain are still unprepared for any kind of Brexit.
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News Photo German business bosses warn Angela Merkel of the country’s possible economic decline if there’s a No Deal Brexit
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