EU rebuffs legislature's bid for bigger role in Brexit talks

[webfact]

EU rebuffs legislature's bid for bigger role in Brexit talks

By RAF CASERT and GEIR MOULSON

 

BRUSSELS (AP) — The leaders of 27 European Union countries on Thursday rebuffed a bid by the EU legislature for a much bigger role in talks on Britain's exit from the bloc, an argument that detracted from efforts to show a united stand in the negotiations.

 

Even though the EU Parliament will have to approve any Brexit scenario at the end of the talks, the EU nations plan to give the negotiator chosen by the bloc's executive Commission, Michel Barnier, the chief position at the negotiating table. That will leave the legislature, which has often been critical of Britain, in a minor role.

 

The parliament has increased its decision-making powers over the last decade and has often clashed with Brexit-backing politicians like former U.K. Independence Party leader Nigel Farage. Because of its diverse political makeup, the EU Parliament could become an unpredictable player in the approval process.

 

EU Parliament President Martin Schulz told the EU leaders that "to relegate the European Parliament to a secondary role" would put the outcome of Brexit talks in danger.

 

"If we are not adequately involved, we may not be able to give our consent. And in this situation, the UK would face the hardest Brexit possible," he said.

 

EU President Donald Tusk countered that "from the very beginning it was absolutely clear for me that the Commission must be the leader."

 

In rebuffing the parliament's ambitions, he said, "It is never enough, and I can understand why."

 

If parliament rejects and subsequently vetoes a deal, Britain could just drop out of the EU and its enormous single market without any political safety net — described as a "hard" exit that many experts say could damage the British economy.

 

At a brief meeting after British Prime Minister Theresa May's departure from Thursday's EU summit, the leaders of the other 27 countries approved a statement saying that Barnier "will be invited to keep the European Parliament closely and regularly informed throughout the negotiation," but offering little more direct involvement.

 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel played down the procedural wrangling, sayin the question of how the EU's institutions work together is not "particularly pressing" given that Britain has yet to formally trigger exit talks.

 

Barnier has said the divorce negotiations with Britain would have to be finished in as little as 18 months after they are triggered, which is expected by the end of March, but others say the whole process could take much longer.

 

Britain's former top civil servant, Gus O'Donnell, said he thought sealing a final deal would take "years and years."

 

"I can imagine it taking at least five years to get through all of the details," he told the BBC. "And I imagine some of the transitional arrangements may be longer than that."

 

When asked about it as she entered the EU summit, May did not address the concern. But the British leader did say she wasn't angry about the other EU leaders meeting without her.

 

"It's right that the other leaders prepare for those (Brexit) negotiations, as we have been," she told reporters. "We will be leaving the EU, we want that to be a smooth and as orderly a process as possible. It's not just in our interests. It's in the interest of the rest of Europe."

 

May didn't mention the Brexit talks as she left the summit. Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny said she had told the other leaders that she wanted the status of EU citizens living in Britain and Britons living elsewhere in the EU "dealt with in the early part of discussions."

 

-- © Associated Press 2016-12-16

[eliotness]

They are still in a state of denial over the vote to leave.  I suspect much more BS to come before the end of March, with, of course, the BBC doing its Remoaner bit at every chance it gets.

[Baerboxer]

23 minutes ago, eliotness said:

They are still in a state of denial over the vote to leave.  I suspect much more BS to come before the end of March, with, of course, the BBC doing its Remoaner bit at every chance it gets.

 

I don't think it's a case of denial at all. It's a case of something that was legally approved as "advisory" and then voted on. If the answer has been to remain the politicians wouldn't have needed to do anything. But it was the opposite. The Referendum Bill clearly stated "advisory" but did not have details on what to do should that advice be to leave and therefore require substantial change.

 

The fact the issue is now in the Supreme court on appeal by the government shows how clueless the politicians are and how badly the whole referendum was planned and implemented. 

 

The internal wranglings are costing the British tax payer heavily. But hey, the politicians have just voted themselves another nice pay rise so all's well.

[dunroaming]

1 hour ago, eliotness said:

They are still in a state of denial over the vote to leave.  I suspect much more BS to come before the end of March, with, of course, the BBC doing its Remoaner bit at every chance it gets.

 

Who do you listen to for the news?  Just wondering if you have found an unbiased source.  I often use Reuters but they seem to say the same as the BBC.

[dunroaming]

As usual there are statements from both sides based on hot air.  A few things are clear.  The EU will make brexit as difficult as they can to deter other countries from considering it.  It will be triggered as close to May's deadline as it can be.  The road will be very bumpy.

 

Latest predictions are that any trade deals will take up to ten years leaving the markets unstable for a long period of time.  Also that Britain may have to pay billions of Euros as part of the divorce settlement.  Time will tell but having to rely on politicians to negotiate all of this makes the whole thing a farce.

[CharlieK]

37 minutes ago, dunroaming said:

Latest predictions are that any trade deals will take up to ten years leaving the markets unstable for a long period of time

 

More hot air from those that would remain! The logic of that statement would be to say that it is unrealistic and that the UK should just leave before negotiating anything. Or that brexit will not happen.

 

Until negotiations actually begin noises of this or that are just that noises, to put fear into the minds of people. best ignored until article 50 is enacted.

[dunroaming]

9 minutes ago, CharlieK said:

 

More hot air from those that would remain! The logic of that statement would be to say that it is unrealistic and that the UK should just leave before negotiating anything. Or that brexit will not happen.

 

Until negotiations actually begin noises of this or that are just that noises, to put fear into the minds of people. best ignored until article 50 is enacted.

 

It was reported by Sir Ivan Rogers, the UK's Ambassador to the EU.  Not his comment but reports of what was being said by the EU members.  As I said the EU will do everything in it's power to make brexit difficult.

 

Just for clarity, no trade deals can be agreed until after we have actually left the EU.  In other words there may be negotiations after article 50 is triggered but no agreements until we are out.

 

As I said in my post

56 minutes ago, dunroaming said:

As usual there are statements from both sides based on hot air

 

We are not disagreeing that these are just that (hot air) at the moment with both sides pitching for their own negotiating stance.  Exactly what will happen nobody knows but both sides have an agenda and we shouldn't underestimate that.

[3NUMBAS]

Like dealing with a rotten junta which it is..cut the head off the snake 

[dunroaming]

1 hour ago, 3NUMBAS said:

Like dealing with a rotten junta which it is..cut the head off the snake 

 

Seems this snake has many heads