One day before a referendum on Brexit in the British House of Commons, EU officials call for calm. „The EU-27 are well advised not to panic,“ said an EU diplomat today. Because it could be that the votes have the character of test votes and that there are no clarity, given the plethora of applications and the confused majority conditions.
Still everything open
More than a dozen parliamentary motions have been tabled in parliament to redirect the government’s previous position towards either a tougher or a softer Brexit. Which one could get a majority is considered completely open.
Prime Minister Theresa May had not received a majority in the House of Commons for her two-year withdrawal treaty negotiated with the EU. Without an agreement on March 29 threatens a disorderly exit of Britain. „The EU is prepared for that,“ said the EU diplomat, adding that this was the worst of all solutions.
May wants to negotiate again with the 27 EU partners, who want clarity on the wishes in London. May’s defeat in parliament was „devastating,“ said Sabine Weyand, deputy EU Brexit negotiator in Brussels. After that, forming a positive majority for the exit deal is „very difficult“.
Brussels loses patience
The EU Commission notes that May has already renegotiated agreements with the EU seven times. „If May came to Brussels, it would be good if she had a broad negotiating mandate and could say that she would then have a majority in the British Parliament.“
