Brexit is in town

Brexit night, again, here in Brussels. Theresa May wants a short postponement of her country’s Brexit date. That is certainly something that would make sense, now that her government and the Labour Party are engaged in talks. EU leaders could wait for those talks to conclude, be it that in the end there is no agreement between the two sides. The position could stand as a recognition of the merit of such talks, an invitation for a national decision on a matter that is of crucial importance to the British nation.

That would be my position in today’s summit meeting. Such position would give the UK Prime Minister some political strength, at a time when she is very weak, it would show respect to her and it could be supported by the European public opinion.

Westminster is making it impossible

At this stage, the best option for all of us in the European neighbourhood – UK and EU – would be to have the Withdrawal Agreement approved by the British parliament. That would be the most reasonable way forward, this late in the process. Both sides need a Brexit arrangement that would bring clarity and could ensure a good degree of continuity to a very close relationship.

Unfortunately, Westminster seems determined to vote down the deal. That will complicate further a political situation that is already very delicate. The UK population deserves better. And they are also tired of the discussions about the Brexit. But the politicians in Parliament are too divided. Moreover, many of them are just guided by personal reasons and by an idea of Britain that does not tally with the international affairs of today.  

Cameron´s strange bedfellows

Friday, 13th June, has not been a very auspicious day for David Cameron. His party has now as fellow parties within the same EU Parliamentary group the likes of the Danish People´s Party, the True Finns and, of all, the German movement that Angela Merkel loves to hate: Alternative für Deutschland, an assembly of anti-euro extremists that the Chancellor considers a serious danger for Germany´s interests in the EU.

It is a very shameful collection of radical right-wingers. Their association with Cameron´s fellows makes Cameron´s position within the EU even more precarious.