In London, Theresa May wants to negotiate now with Labour about the Brexit, after she gets no majority. The EU is preparing tough it out “just in case”. From Brussels Bernd Riegert.
Parliamentarians, EU commissioners and representatives of the member States in Brussels to recognize the meaning in the latest move by the British Prime Minister, Theresa May. EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker rated the Brexit-Drama, in a speech before the European Parliament. “Usually, I talk freely here,” said Juncker, “but this time I read the speech, because I know how important the topic is.” In fact, every word out of Brussels is placed in the UK on the gold scale. His promise from the speech, “to do until the last Minute to avoid a hard Brexit”, immediately caused for breaking news in UK media. Two days ago, Juncker had said that his patience was limited. Even so, he had made headlines. The nerves are on both sides of the blank.
Outlet at 12. April “increasingly likely.”
On the announcement of the conservative Prime Minister, Theresa May, to look now, together with the social democratic Opposition, a majority for Brexit agreement with the EU, not a Juncker directly. He, however, made it clear that from his point of view, a further shift of the exit, which is currently on the 12. April is set, is possible only if the Deal is actually ratified. The divorce agreement had been rejected by the British house of Commons on three occasions. The EU could grant a consent to an extension of “a few days” to work on the political Declaration on the future of the relations. “We are for a lot of options – from free trade on the customs Union to a common economic space. This was always so,” said Juncker, with a view to the various models that have been discussed for days in the Parliament and again rejected.
New best friends? Head of the Labour party Corbyn (li.) and the Prime Minister May want to talk (archive image)
Juncker made it clear once again that the elections to the European Parliament should not be put at risk by the end of may. If the UK wants to reach a multi-week or multi-month extension of the exit negotiations, we would only do that if the British vote, a Parliament in which they are actually not represented to be. The skeptical conclusion of the President of the European Commission to the recent turns in London: “An exit without a Deal on 12. April is always likely, even if I wished for that.”
The EU wants to levy tariffs
The EU had prepared so well it went, on a hard Brexit, announced Juncker. “A shock is mitigated as far as possible,” said the President of the Commission. For duties of the responsible financial Commissioner Pierre Moscovici had earlier confirmed in a press conference that the EU will rise in the goods trade with the United Kingdom customs duties. Interruptions, long traffic jams and inconveniences would be avoided, as Moscovici; and, finally, a day of 11,000 would be delivery trucks on ferries or trains to the UK or leave. Customs controls at the emerging Land border between the EU member Ireland and Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, would be relocated “as far as possible” to the Hinterland or in the farms, announced Moscovici. The question of whether there would also be physical controls, for example, of cattle or horses on the border, he left unanswered.
Better than football
The question now is, how the 27 heads of state and heads of government will decide if in a week the British Prime Minister, represents a kind of request for postponement of the discharge date. The Irish Prime Minister, Leo Varadkar, whose country is affected by the border with Northern Ireland particularly, were flexible. “I’ve not spoken to all of them, but my feeling says that the European Council would be open to an extension,” said Varadkar in Dublin. This Thursday he welcomes the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, to discuss a way out of the Brexit-maze.
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Ireland – the Comeback of the smugglers
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Ireland – the Comeback of the smugglers
The French Minister for Europe, Amelie de Montchalin finds the attempt by the government and the Opposition in the UK to talk to each other, is commendable. “A success, however, is by no means guaranteed.” What is the meaning of the conversations for the special summit of the EU next week, is not yet clear.
“Tick tock,” said the British MEP Jacqueline Foster in Brussels on the situation in their homeland. “The clock is ticking. For God’s Sake! They support the Deal,” urged Foster to your conservative party friends in London, who want to leave the EU. Prior to the talks with the leader of the opposition, the Deputy warned: “Jeremy Corbyn is our friend.” The members of the UK independence party rejoiced in the European Parliament. If the British would be forced, at the European elections in may to participate in one of the best of going to his party, it seemed a candidate to win the battle for the Brexit, announced the Deputy Gerard Batten of the independence party.
The head of the liberal group in the EU Parliament, Guy Verhofstadt, could not resist, in spite of the serious topic a joke. He finds that the debates in the house of Commons were now more interesting than the British football League: “Even if there are in the house only a draw.”