German economists propose flexible Brexit plan

London

ECONOMISTS at Ifo Institute, a leading German economic think-tank, have proposed a canny plan to end the Brexit deadlock: open the door to a flexible Brexit deal that is acceptable to both the UK Parliament and the European Union (EU).

The model would scrap the contentious "backstop provision" in the current withdrawal agreement. Instead, the UK would delegate all trade policy in goods to a newly-created European Customs Association (ECA).