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Merkel says still unclear what Britain wants in Brexit talks
BERLIN, Sept 25, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel said
Tuesday that Britain had still not expressed a clear position on its post-
Brexit relations with the EU, warning that only “six to eight weeks” remained
to reach an agreement.
Success in the upcoming negotiations depended “largely on what it is
Britain really wants, and on this the discussion has still not been entirely
clear”, Merkel told a business conference in Berlin.
Merkel reiterated the stance of the remaining 27 EU members that “you
can’t belong to a single market if you want to stick to just one of its
principles but not the other three”.
Brussels believes May wants Britain to keep the benefits of free trade on
goods with the EU without following its three other core principles, the free
movement of people, services and capital over borders.
British Prime Minister Theresa May had hit back Friday at the EU after it
roundly rejected her Brexit plan, saying its refusal to compromise was “not
acceptable” and warning she was still prepared to walk away from the talks.
May blamed Brussels for the “impasse” just weeks ahead of a deadline to
seal a deal — and six months before Britain leaves the EU in March.
The EU summit in Salzburg had also raised the stakes by putting on ice a
special summit planned for November to seal a deal, saying it would only
happen if there is progress next month.
Merkel said the November special summit would “probably” take place but
warned that “six to eight weeks of intense work lie ahead in which we have to
make political decisions”.
Progress could be achieved in October, she said, but added that any
proposal should “formulate in the most concrete terms possible” what future
relations should look like.
Otherwise, warned the chancellor, “the transition period could become too
short to reach any kind of reasonable agreement”.
May’s government faces heightening pressure as it lacks a stable majority
in parliament and could face defeat by MPs if and when it brings a final deal
with Brussels for a vote.
Critics of May’s Brexit proposal have launched a “Save Brexit Campaign” to
push for a clean break with the EU.
Polls show the country is still more or less divided on Brexit, although a
narrow majority might now support staying in the EU.
BSS/AFP/ARS/1657 hrs