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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/oct/13/its-hard-brexit-or-no-brexit-at-all-says-eu-council-president
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| It's hard Brexit or no Brexit at all, says EU council president | It's hard Brexit or no Brexit at all, says EU council president |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The UK faces the stark choice of either a hard Brexit or no Brexit, the president of the European council has said – the first time he has taken such a clear line on the likely outcome of the UK’s exit talks. | The UK faces the stark choice of either a hard Brexit or no Brexit, the president of the European council has said – the first time he has taken such a clear line on the likely outcome of the UK’s exit talks. |
| Donald Tusk, one of the EU’s top leaders, said a radical loosening of ties with the continent would be painful for British citizens if it did happen. | Donald Tusk, one of the EU’s top leaders, said a radical loosening of ties with the continent would be painful for British citizens if it did happen. |
| Speaking to an audience of policymakers in Brussels on Thursday, Tusk – who chairs EU leaders’ summits – said it was useless to speculate about a soft Brexit: “The only real alternative to a hard Brexit is no Brexit, even if today hardly anyone believes in such a possibility.” | |
| He warned that Brexit would be painful for Britons, but the rest of the EU would also lose out: “There will be no cakes on the table, for anyone. There will be only salt and vinegar.” | He warned that Brexit would be painful for Britons, but the rest of the EU would also lose out: “There will be no cakes on the table, for anyone. There will be only salt and vinegar.” |
| Tusk stressed EU leaders would conduct the negotiations in good faith, but said the UK could not get a better deal than if it remained in the EU. | Tusk stressed EU leaders would conduct the negotiations in good faith, but said the UK could not get a better deal than if it remained in the EU. |
| Theresa May has rejected the terms hard and soft Brexit as a false choice, promoted by those who have not accepted the result of the referendum. The prime minister spelled out at the Tory party conference earlier this month that she favoured immigration controls over close economic ties to the EU single market. | Theresa May has rejected the terms hard and soft Brexit as a false choice, promoted by those who have not accepted the result of the referendum. The prime minister spelled out at the Tory party conference earlier this month that she favoured immigration controls over close economic ties to the EU single market. |
| Despite her dislike of the term hard Brexit, May’s approach has been interpreted by many EU politicians and diplomats as a green light for a sharp break with the EU. | Despite her dislike of the term hard Brexit, May’s approach has been interpreted by many EU politicians and diplomats as a green light for a sharp break with the EU. |
| Tusk said the leave campaign and its “Take back control” slogan showed the UK wanted to be free of EU law while rejecting free movement of people and contributions to the EU budget. | Tusk said the leave campaign and its “Take back control” slogan showed the UK wanted to be free of EU law while rejecting free movement of people and contributions to the EU budget. |
| “This approach has definitive consequences, both for the position of the UK government and for the whole process of negotiations,” he said. “Regardless of magic spells, this means a de facto will to radically loosen relations with the EU – something that goes by the name of hard Brexit.” | “This approach has definitive consequences, both for the position of the UK government and for the whole process of negotiations,” he said. “Regardless of magic spells, this means a de facto will to radically loosen relations with the EU – something that goes by the name of hard Brexit.” |
| Tusk also launched a thinly veiled attack on Boris Johnson, notorious in Brussels for his jokey phrase that Britain could have its cake and eat it. Without naming the foreign secretary, he criticised “the proponents of the cake philosophy” who argued the UK could be part of the EU single market without bearing any of the costs. | Tusk also launched a thinly veiled attack on Boris Johnson, notorious in Brussels for his jokey phrase that Britain could have its cake and eat it. Without naming the foreign secretary, he criticised “the proponents of the cake philosophy” who argued the UK could be part of the EU single market without bearing any of the costs. |
| “That was pure illusion, that one can have the EU cake and eat it too. To all who believe in it, I propose a simple experiment. Buy a cake, eat it, and see if it is still there on the plate.” | “That was pure illusion, that one can have the EU cake and eat it too. To all who believe in it, I propose a simple experiment. Buy a cake, eat it, and see if it is still there on the plate.” |
| The jibe recalls the mocking words of Wolfgang Schäuble, Germany’s finance minister, who said he would send Johnson a copy of the treaties, after the Brexiter claimed there was no link between freedom of movement and access to the single market. | The jibe recalls the mocking words of Wolfgang Schäuble, Germany’s finance minister, who said he would send Johnson a copy of the treaties, after the Brexiter claimed there was no link between freedom of movement and access to the single market. |