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Juncker tells UK: clarify your position so we can get on with Brexit Angela Merkel: no special favours for UK over single market
(about 2 hours later)
The European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker has urged the UK to “clarify its position” on Brexit as soon as possible “so we can get on with it.” Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, has dismissed leading Brexit campaigner Boris Johnson’s proposal that Britain might enjoy access to the European single market and restrict immigration at the same time, telling German MPs the UK will enjoy no special favours.
In an emotional address to the European parliament, Juncker said there must be no secret negotiations on Brexit. He added that Britain and the UK remained friends but said that the government needed to state its position swiftly to avoid uncertainty. In a speech to the Bundestag, Merkel said negotiations over Britain’s post-EU future would not be a “cherry-picking exercise”. To applause, she warned that the UK government should be under no illusions over the decisions that would be made.
“We will make sure that negotiations will not be carried out as a cherry-picking exercise. There must be and there will be a palpable difference between those countries who want to be members of the European family and those who don’t,” she said.
Writing in the Daily Telegraph on Monday, Johnson had suggested the UK might “take back democratic control of immigration” while continuing to enjoy free market access. Merkel’s comments – echoed on Tuesday by Italy’s prime minister, Matteo Renzi – made clear that this will not happen.
“Whoever wants to leave this family cannot expect to shed all its responsibilities but keep the privileges,” Merkel said. “Those for example, who want free access to the single market will in return have to respect European basic rights and freedoms ... that’s true for Great Britain just as much as for the others.”
Merkel said the UK could enjoy access to the single market only if it accepted the “four basic European freedoms – that of people, goods, services and capital”.
She added: “Norway, for instance, is not a member of the European Union but has access to the single market because it accepts open migration from the European Union.”
The chancellor’s comments made clear the stark choices facing David Cameron’s successor as prime minister.
Speaking in Brussels, ahead of a summit on Tuesday attended by the UK prime minister, the European commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, has urged the UK to “clarify its position” on Brexit.
In an emotional address to the European parliament, Juncker said there must be no secret negotiations on Brexit. He added that Britain and the UK remained friends but said the British government needed to state its position swiftly to avoid uncertainty.
“I would like our British friends to tell us what they want so we can get on with it,” Juncker said, expressing surprise at the foot-dragging thus far from the British side.“I would like our British friends to tell us what they want so we can get on with it,” Juncker said, expressing surprise at the foot-dragging thus far from the British side.
There were surreal scenes at the parliament when a victorious Nigel Farage appeared in the chamber. Juncker told the UKIP leader: “That’s the last time you are applauding here. And to some extent I’m really surprised that you are here. You were fighting for the exit. The British people voted in favour of the exit; why are you here?” There were surreal scenes inside the European parliament when a victorious Nigel Farage appeared in the chamber. Juncker told the Ukip leader: “That’s the last time you are applauding here. And to some extent I’m really surprised that you are here. You were fighting for the exit. The British people voted in favour of the exit; why are you here?”
Juncker switched into English to harangue Farage, but delivered his speech in French. The pair also swapped a few conciliatory words. In a photo destined to be pored over by future students of European history Juncker even given Farage a peck on the cheek. Juncker switched into English to harangue Farage, but delivered his speech in French. The pair also swapped a few conciliatory words. In a photograph destined to be pored over by future students of European history, Juncker even gave Farage an air-peck on the cheek.
But Farage then turned to chastising his fellow MEPs, declaring: “Most of you have never done a proper day’s work in your lives.” In turn, he was heckled, and booed. But Farage then turned to chastising his fellow MEPs, declaring: “Most of you have never done a proper day’s work in your lives.” In turn, he was heckled, booed and ironically applauded.
Others, however, made no effort to contain their rage. Manfred Weber, a close ally of Germany’s chancellor Angela Merkel, accused Farage of lying over his claim that the NHS would get £350m a week after a Brexit vote. “Shame on you,” he said, to resounding applause from MEPs. Others, however, made no effort to contain their rage. Manfred Weber, a close ally of Merkel’s, accused Farage of lying over his claim that the NHS would get £350m a week after a Brexit vote. “Shame on you,” he said, to resounding applause from MEPs.
David Cameron is due to arrive in Brussels for a summit later today for the first time since Thursday’s cataclysmic Brexit vote. Cameron’s trip to Brussels is his first since Thursday’s shock Brexit vote.
Juncker’s comments will add to the pressure on Britain to start divorce proceedings as soon as possible. The leaders of Germany, France and Italy have ruled out any chance of informal talks on the UK’s future relationship with the block until it gives formal notification of its intention to leave, with a consensus emerging that this should happen in the autumn. Juncker’s comments will add to the pressure on Britain to start divorce proceedings as soon as possible. The leaders of Germany, France and Italy have ruled out any chance of informal talks on the UK’s future relationship with the bloc until it gives formal notification of its intention to leave, with a consensus emerging that this should happen in the autumn.
Addressing the Bundestag in Berlin, Merkel warned that there would be no special favours for Britain. It should be under no illusions over the decisions that would be made she said, to long applause from German MPs. The prime minister has insisted it is Britain’s “sovereign decision” to decide when to trigger article 50, the mechanism by which a member state leaves the union, and Brexit leaders have said they want informal talks on the shape of a deal before locking Britain into the tight two-year extrication process. MEPs said on Tuesday “no notification” meant “no negotiation”.
“We will make sure that negotiations will not be carried out as a cherry-picking exercise. There must be and there will be a palpable difference between those countries who want to be members of the European family and those who don’t.”
Merkel quashed the idea - floated by Boris Johnson on Monday in his Daily Telegraph column - that the UK might enjoy access to the single market without also accepting freedom of movement. “Whoever wants to leave this family cannot expect to shed all its responsibilities but keep the privileges,” Merkel said.
“Those for example, who want free access to the single market will in return have to respect European basic rights and freedoms....that’s true for GB just as much as for the others.“Free access to the single market is granted to those who accept the four basic European freedoms - that of people, goods, services and capital.“Norway for instance is not a member of the European Union but has access to the single market because it accepts open migration from the European Union.
The prime minister has insisted that it is Britain’s “sovereign decision” to decide when to trigger article 50, the mechanism by which a member state leaves the union, and Brexit leaders have said they want informal talks on the shape of a deal before locking Britain into the tight two-year extrication process.
Related: Brexit live: 'It was not our responsibility' to have plan for leaving EU, says OsborneRelated: Brexit live: 'It was not our responsibility' to have plan for leaving EU, says Osborne
Cameron, who resigned after the shock vote last week, is expected to repeat that initiating the withdrawal process must be a job for his successor, likely to be appointed by early September. Most in Brussels accept that Britain cannot be expected to make a move before the political dust has settled on the referendum. Cameron, who resigned after the vote last week, is expected to repeat that initiating the withdrawal process must be a job for his successor, likely to be appointed by early September. Most in Brussels accept that Britain cannot be expected to make a move before the political dust has settled on the referendum.
Cameron will meet the European commission president Jean-Claude Juncker and the EU president Donald Tusk before the summit formally starts. He will then take part in long-planned debates on migration, European security and the single market; the rest of the EU is determined to show it is business as usual. Cameron will meet Juncker and the EU president, Donald Tusk, before the summit formally starts. He will then take part in long-planned debates on migration, European security and the single market; the rest of the EU is determined to show it is business as usual.
He will then “explain Britain’s situation” at a dinner and return home, not having been invited to Wednesday’s further talks. Cameron has not yet indicated what he intends to do about the UK presidency of the EU, still in principle scheduled to take place in the second half of 2017.He will then “explain Britain’s situation” at a dinner and return home, not having been invited to Wednesday’s further talks. Cameron has not yet indicated what he intends to do about the UK presidency of the EU, still in principle scheduled to take place in the second half of 2017.
Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, has said she has “a degree of understanding” for the fact that Britain may need “a certain amount of time to analyse things”, but warned that a “long-term suspension” of the question would serve no one’s interests. Merkel has said she has “a degree of understanding” for the fact that Britain may need “a certain amount of time to analyse things”, but warned that a “long-term suspension” of the question would serve no one’s interests.
But she, French president François Hollande and Italy’s prime minister Matteo Renzi have rejected London’s view that it wants a “clear view” of what its future trade relationship with the EU might be before triggering article 50. They say there could be “no informal or formal talks … until an application has been filed to leave”. But she, the French president, François Hollande, and Italy’s prime minister, Matteo Renzi ,have rejected London’s view that it wants a “clear view” of what its future trade relationship with the EU might be before triggering article 50. They say there could be “no informal or formal talks … until an application has been filed to leave”.
While some member states – particularly Poland, which considers Britain one of its greatest EU allies – have wondered whether the UK might not be persuaded to stay, most want Brexit under way quickly to contain the risk of Eurosceptic contagion, limit the economic instability, and allow the EU to move forward with new initiatives on security, growth and jobs. While some member states – particularly Poland, which considers Britain one of its greatest EU allies – have wondered whether the UK might not be persuaded to stay, most want Brexit under way quickly to contain the risk of Eurosceptic contagion, limit the economic instability and allow the EU to move forward with new initiatives on security, growth and jobs.
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Leaders have queued up in recent days to say the process must start soon. Hollande said on Monday that Britain should “not waste time”, adding: “Nothing is worse than uncertainty – and Britain has already had painful experience of this.” Finland’s prime minister, Juha Sipilä, said Britain should leave “as soon as possible”.Leaders have queued up in recent days to say the process must start soon. Hollande said on Monday that Britain should “not waste time”, adding: “Nothing is worse than uncertainty – and Britain has already had painful experience of this.” Finland’s prime minister, Juha Sipilä, said Britain should leave “as soon as possible”.
Brussels has also ruled out informal talks on a possible trade deal before the UK triggers article 50. “No notification, no negotiation,” EU officials have said.Brussels has also ruled out informal talks on a possible trade deal before the UK triggers article 50. “No notification, no negotiation,” EU officials have said.
The EU has no legal means to force Britain to launch the exit process and most European governments as well as Brussels officials now believe the UK should be given until the end of the year at the latest to push the button – meaning it would no longer be an EU member by the European parliament elections and appointment of a new European commission in 2019. The EU has no legal means to force Britain to launch the exit process and most European governments as well as Brussels officials believe the UK should be given until the end of the year at the latest to push the button – meaning it would no longer be an EU member by the time of the European parliamentary elections and appointment of a new European commission in 2019.
EU officials have said it would be “unrealistic” to expect Cameron to initiate the exit process at a time when Britain was in “a very significant political crisis, not only of the leadership of the ruling party … but a crisis that goes much deeper”.EU officials have said it would be “unrealistic” to expect Cameron to initiate the exit process at a time when Britain was in “a very significant political crisis, not only of the leadership of the ruling party … but a crisis that goes much deeper”.