German Chancellor Angela Merkel defended Germany’s signing into the UN migration pact while speaking to the Bundestag in Berlin, on Wednesday.
“This free movement of people is an accomplishment of the European Union,” said Merkel as she urged parties to refrain from only considering their own interests.
“That is nationalism in its purest form,” she added.
The non-legally binding Global Compact for Migration which covers international migration in all aspects was concluded in July and is expected to be adopted by UN member states in December.
The German Chancellor also addressed the Brexit deal projected to be finally struck between the UK and EU member states in an emergency summit on November 25, after Theresa May secured the approval of her cabinet earlier this week.
“We are, just as before, sad that Great Britain is leaving the European Union but of course we accept and respect that,” remarked Merkel while adding that maintaining a good relationship with the UK was in Germany’s interest.
Merkel’s only apprehension about the deal was the question of Gibraltar, a territory with British sovereignty on the south coast of Spain.
Spain has threatened not to sign the Brexit deal if the status of Gibraltar is not open to further discussions between Spain and the UK.