May’s Brexit: Europe responds

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May’s Brexit: Europe responds

Catherine Hardy

 

 

LONDON: -- Theresa May’s announcement that the UK will leave the single market in what is widely being seen as a “hard Brexit” has already had an impact on the financial markets.

 

EU’s Chief Brexit negotiator

 

“Ready as soon as the UK is. Only notification can kick off negotiations,” – Michel Barnier, EU’s chief Brexit negotiator.

 

Finnish Finance Minister

 

“Britain has laid out its plan for #brexit. Next, it is the job of #EU27 to find a common positiion. United we stand, divided we fall,” – Petteri Orpo said on Twitter.

 

UK Labour leader, opposition

 

“She has said ‘leave the single market’ but at the same time said she wants to have access to the market. I am not sure how that is going to go down in Europe..she seems to be wanting to have her cake and eat it,” – Jeremy Corbyn said on Sky News.

 

Scottish First Minister

 

Nicola Sturgeon says her country must have the option of independence if its wishes are dismissed.

 

“The prime minister has taken the UK down the road of a hard Brexit. It is not driven by the interest of the country, it is driven by the interest of the hard right of her own party. That is deeply regrettable.”

 

“Scotland cannot be taken down a path that we did not vote for and is against our interests. We have put forward proposals, we will continue to take decisions in an orderly manner but I am not prepared to allow Scotland’s interests to be steamrollered.”

 

German Foreign Minister

 

“We welcome that the British prime minister is today outlining her government’s ideas for leaving and has finally created a little more clarity about the British plans,” said Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

 

“Our line is, and remains:the negotiations can begin only when Great Britain has given official notification of its desire to leave.”

 

Irish government statement

 

“She made clear that her priorities include maintaining the common travel area and avoiding a return to a hard border with Northern Ireland, both of which are welcome.”

 

“The Government notes that the British approach is now firmly that of a country which will have left the eU but which seeks to negotiate a new, close relationship with it. While this will inevitably be seen by many as a “hard exit”, the analysis across Government has covered all possible models for the future UK relationship with the EU.”

 

“The Government is under no illusion about the nature and scale of the Brexit challenge. The Government is acutely aware of the potential risks and challenges for the Irish economy and will remain fully engaged on this aspect as the negotiations proceed.”

 

“The Government is also very aware of the potential economic opportunities that may arise for Ireland, including in terms of mobile investment. Economic opportunities for Ireland will be pursued vigorously.”

 

Questions

 

The UK’s vote to leave the bloc has opened up a huge number of questions about immigration, the future rights of many EU citizens already living in the UK, whether exporters will keep tariff-free access to the single market and British-based banks will be able to serve continental clients.

 

 

-- © Copyright Euronews 2017-01-18

[jpinx]

What a breath of fresh air, and now the EU members are mumbling into their coffee and saying "Wait for the Art50" -- because they have no clue how to go forward from here.  UK is getting a good grip of the present and has a  vision for the future,  but the EU is struggling with the present and peering forward into the fog.

[Guest]

1 hour ago, jpinx said:

What a breath of fresh air, and now the EU members are mumbling into their coffee and saying "Wait for the Art50" -- because they have no clue how to go forward from here.  UK is getting a good grip of the present and has a  vision for the future,  but the EU is struggling with the present and peering forward into the fog.

Sounds more like they are keeping their stance and stick together. That's how you get negotiation power.

 

 

[jpinx]

Just now, oilinki said:

Sounds more like they are keeping their stance and stick together. That's how you get negotiation power.

 

 

The Finnish comment was "stand toether", but the rest are hiding in their burrows, supposedly waiting for Art50.  The Irish have come out a lot more - having a lot at stake, but the reality is that USA, Oz, India, and many more are queueing up to get a trade deal with independent UK -- as has been reported over the last 3 months or so...

[stander]

Theresa May has chosen the most exciting version of Brexit and the most difficult

[uptheos]

And don't forget President Donald J Trump hassaid we are at the front of the queue for a trade deal. I bet that statement hurt the wimpey outgoing guy who said "you will have to get to the back of the queue. 

Go for a hard Brexit, leave these chumps behind and let Merkel enjoy her 1 mil migrants, they aren't coming to the UK!

[i claudius]

Corbyn and the poisen dwarf , what a pair of losers , even their own party's dont want them

[Guest]

9 minutes ago, jpinx said:

The Finnish comment was "stand toether", but the rest are hiding in their burrows, supposedly waiting for Art50.  The Irish have come out a lot more - having a lot at stake, but the reality is that USA, Oz, India, and many more are queueing up to get a trade deal with independent UK -- as has been reported over the last 3 months or so...

Of course they are willing to do trade deals. All of those parties know that they have much more negotiation power when independent UK is alone and in need to make quick deals. That's just politics and economics. Larger entities have more negotiation power.

 

 

 

[jpinx]

14 minutes ago, stander said:

Theresa May has chosen the most exciting version of Brexit and the most difficult

To be honest - she has chosen this way because of the EU's attitude of "no concessions" .  Fine!  Let's see how EU manages it's own problems now with an Independent UK sitting on it's doorstep doing business around the world

[pitrevie]

1 hour ago, jpinx said:

What a breath of fresh air, and now the EU members are mumbling into their coffee and saying "Wait for the Art50" -- because they have no clue how to go forward from here.  UK is getting a good grip of the present and has a  vision for the future,  but the EU is struggling with the present and peering forward into the fog.

 

You are comical it reminds me of the old Times headline, Fog in the channel, continent cut off.

[Guest]

10 minutes ago, uptheos said:

And don't forget President Donald J Trump hassaid we are at the front of the queue for a trade deal. I bet that statement hurt the wimpey outgoing guy who said "you will have to get to the back of the queue. 

Go for a hard Brexit, leave these chumps behind and let Merkel enjoy her 1 mil migrants, they aren't coming to the UK!

Lol. US under Trump is no longer trustworthy partner. 

[uptheos]

Just now, oilinki said:

Lol. US under Trump is no longer trustworthy partner. 

 

You don't know yet, so that's just a silly statement

[terryw]

If the Europeans try to play hardball then Brexit will destroy them. The City of London is the finance house of Europe and they will take action to protect their interests.

[Guest]

3 minutes ago, uptheos said:

 

You don't know yet, so that's just a silly statement

With all Trumps changes of opinions within days and dismissive talk about western co-operation? Really?

 

While you and Russia might be ok what and how he talks, I can assure that the rest of the western world is not.

[soalbundy]

23 minutes ago, uptheos said:

And don't forget President Donald J Trump hassaid we are at the front of the queue for a trade deal. I bet that statement hurt the wimpey outgoing guy who said "you will have to get to the back of the queue. 

Go for a hard Brexit, leave these chumps behind and let Merkel enjoy her 1 mil migrants, they aren't coming to the UK!

What has the UK to offer America? Mars bars ?

[soalbundy]

27 minutes ago, stander said:

Theresa May has chosen the most exciting version of Brexit and the most difficult

This is going to end in tears but i've been out of the UK for over 40 years so i don't care

[uptheos]

5 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

What has the UK to offer America? Mars bars ?

[soalbundy]

1 minute ago, uptheos said:

They are offering May doing the splits ?

[uptheos]

1 minute ago, soalbundy said:

They are offering May doing the splits ?

 

Good one, I like it!

[evadgib]

Link to all things Brexit:

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/brexit

[RuamRudy]

28 minutes ago, i claudius said:

Corbyn and the poisen dwarf , what a pair of losers , even their own party's dont want them

 

Is there any basis, other than a chronic case of very little englander syndrome, behind your claim that the SNP is dissatisfied with Sturgeon?

 

As it is, the Scottish parliament yesterday voted overwhelmingly for Scotland's place in the single market to be protected - this from a parliament that people like to repeatedly point out is not controlled by the SNP.

[evadgib]

Maggie MAY :)

[sinbin]

Quote

I am not sure how that is going to go down in Europe..she seems to be wanting to have her cake and eat it,” – Jeremy Corbyn 

Are we particularly bothered on how it's 'going to go down in Europe'?

[Baerboxer]

21 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

 

Is there any basis, other than a chronic case of very little englander syndrome, behind your claim that the SNP is dissatisfied with Sturgeon?

 

As it is, the Scottish parliament yesterday voted overwhelmingly for Scotland's place in the single market to be protected - this from a parliament that people like to repeatedly point out is not controlled by the SNP.

 

And the 'parliament' of an integral part of the UK. We all know Sturgeon has one agenda, an independent Scotland, ruled by herself. At any price, any cost.

[Mousehound]

1 hour ago, uptheos said:

And don't forget President Donald J Trump hassaid we are at the front of the queue for a trade deal. I bet that statement hurt the wimpey outgoing guy who said "you will have to get to the back of the queue. 

Go for a hard Brexit, leave these chumps behind and let Merkel enjoy her 1 mil migrants, they aren't coming to the UK!

Of course Trump will engineer a deal with the Brits.  Oh, and by the way he will make sure will be a real winner for the UK.  I'm sure he will also say not to worry about the fine print.  After all, he knows that the UK will be desperate to strike a deal.  Naturally Trump won't take advantage of this?  In fairness to Trump it is his job to gain every advantage he can for the USA and I suspect he will be very good at it.

[nontabury]

1 hour ago, RuamRudy said:

 

Is there any basis, other than a chronic case of very little englander syndrome, behind your claim that the SNP is dissatisfied with Sturgeon?

 

As it is, the Scottish parliament yesterday voted overwhelmingly for Scotland's place in the single market to be protected - this from a parliament that people like to repeatedly point out is not controlled by the SNP.

 

  Perhaps the SNP have yet to do their homework.

[jpinx]

10 minutes ago, nontabury said:

 

  Perhaps the SNP have yet to do their homework.

spend spend spend -- to hell with the need to actually come close to balancing the books.  Currently a deficit of 9.4% of GDP and rising fast.....

[RuamRudy]

7 minutes ago, nontabury said:

Perhaps the SNP have yet to do their homework.

 

86 MSPs for, 36 against - there are only 63 SNP MSPs in Holyrood.

[RuamRudy]

Just now, jpinx said:

spend spend spend -- to hell with the need to actually come close to balancing the books.  Currently a deficit of 9.4% of GDP and rising fast.....

 

I feel a strange sense of deja vu...

[CharlieK]

2 hours ago, jpinx said:

To be honest - she has chosen this way because of the EU's attitude of "no concessions" .  Fine!  Let's see how EU manages it's own problems now with an Independent UK sitting on it's doorstep doing business around the world

 

However the EU won't want another net beneficiary of Funds. They need paying members once the UK minus Scotland have left. lol