EU may be responding to Brexit appropriately

[GAZZPA]

I think the UK leaving the EU was a very risky decision, perhaps the decision was swayed for all the wrong reasons. But whatever the situation the EU right now does not work. It is plagued with serious issues and there are many disgruntled states but the EU tone seems to be changing.

It appears that the EU is now urgently reflecting on policy and reform post Brexit. The EU meeting planned in Bratislava in just a few months is being set as the stage for discussion on reform. The question is starting to emerge "Why did the EU lose the UK, the second biggest economy and contributor the the EU project?"

This is the way forward in my opinion. I don't see that there is any choice in the matter. The UK will not invoke article 50 for many months, at least until a new PM is appointed, and the EU simply cannot wait as it will need to try and ensure that Brexit has not "motivated" other disgruntled nations to review their very own membership.

I may be a little optimistic and it is certainly not an easy road but I think that this could maybe, possibly be the start of EU reforms that put it on the road to the success that has so far eluded it.

I also don't see it necessarily being the disaster everyone thinks for the UK. The UK needs the EU trade and the EU needs the UK trade so somewhere along the line a deal will be struck if indeed the UK does leave the EU. Ironically the reason driving the "leave" vote seems to have been the immigration issues, and of course to access the free market the UK will have to agree and adopt the "freedom of movement and services" policy with the EU in order to access the market. So, not sure how Brexit solves the UK's immigration issues at all. But it could be that the UK strikes a deal with the EU and also releases itself from EU policies allowing UK independent deals to be done with other global nations such as China, it could have it's cake and eat it!

Or maybe the EU will implement reforms and the UK does not leave and the start of all this could be in Bratislava.

Perhaps, despite the obvious risks Brexit may have been the almightily kick up the backside the EU needs.

https://euobserver.com/institutional/134116

[daveAustin]

Well reform is too late as far as the UK goes. It is out, A50 is just a formality, and with that it will be free to trade with whomever it chooses regardless of any trade deal struck with the EU in the future.

[GuestHouse]

Well reform is too late as far as the UK goes. It is out, A50 is just a formality, and with that it will be free to trade with whomever it chooses regardless of any trade deal struck with the EU in the future.

Britain is not yet 'out'.

Even if Britain does go 'out' Britain (or what is left of Britain) will remain subject to all the EU regulations in order to do business with Europe, while the reality that the UK does more business with France than with China sinks in https://www.uktradeinfo.com/Statistics/OverseasTradeStatistics/Pages/OTS.aspx

Or perhaps you can shoot me down in flames and tell me which nations does the EU currently prevent the Britain doing business with?

[BuaBS]

The Brits are acting like stupid children. Now is the time to go out and make deals with the 150 or so countries not in that evil closed club called EU. The pay to play with the EU zone is ridiculous.

The thing is , even Farage after a battle of 17 years didn't believe in his own victory. By the stupid British election system he and UKIP were snubbed from advancements at the last elections. With a david v goliath fight , with goliath bringing his twin brother that works for big government , deep state , NSA,... there was little chance of winning. So why make big plans to lead the UK through the "chaos" aftermath of a win ?

You're not telling me that with all their experience , knowhow , manipulation ( in world events & financial markets) , their spying on EU and "friendly" countries by the GCHQ , they have to go through this chaotic , uncertain period.

Ofcourse the EU is responding like a school bully's club . In fact nothing about trade between the UK and the EU should change , no extra tarifs & fees , it's just trade of goods without conditions.

[GAZZPA]

Well reform is too late as far as the UK goes. It is out, A50 is just a formality, and with that it will be free to trade with whomever it chooses regardless of any trade deal struck with the EU in the future.

Britain is not yet 'out'.

Even if Britain does go 'out' Britain (or what is left of Britain) will remain subject to all the EU regulations in order to do business with Europe, while the reality that the UK does more business with France than with China sinks in https://www.uktradeinfo.com/Statistics/OverseasTradeStatistics/Pages/OTS.aspx

Or perhaps you can shoot me down in flames and tell me which nations does the EU currently prevent the Britain doing business with?

The Uk will not be subject to all EU regulations once it is out, thats the point of being out. It will, of course have to negotiate with the EU regarding trade and free movement of people, goods, money and services will be on the agenda of course.

Whilst in the EU the UK cannot fashion trade deals with anyone, how can it? All of the import tariffs are determined in Brussels for EU member states so what can you negotiate with? How can you go to China foe example and say "we would like to trade with you but we cannot negotiate in anyway the import tariffs, anti dumping or indeed any legislation on Chinas imports".

Not being within the EU changes all that.

[GAZZPA]

Well reform is too late as far as the UK goes. It is out, A50 is just a formality, and with that it will be free to trade with whomever it chooses regardless of any trade deal struck with the EU in the future.

Article 50 is not just a formality, it is the action of withdrawing from the EU. Until this is presented the UK are not officially leaving the EU. The referendum is not a legally binding result, it would be difficult to ignore of course but if some kind of reform is planned and agreed it may make it favourable to stay, after all the majority was pretty slim.

not sure if reform is too late, I guess it all depends on how the EU deal with the aftermath themselves and how they are going to avoid other disgruntled states from leaving.

I guess time will tell