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| Tusk highlights growing frustration but has not toughened EU stance Tusk highlights growing frustration but has not toughened EU stance | |
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| Donald Tusk’s reply to British MPs who had written urging him to act swiftly to reduce the anxiety and uncertainty of EU citizens living in each others’ countries after Brexit was frank – even sarcastic. | Donald Tusk’s reply to British MPs who had written urging him to act swiftly to reduce the anxiety and uncertainty of EU citizens living in each others’ countries after Brexit was frank – even sarcastic. |
| “It is a very interesting argument, the only problem being that it has nothing to do with reality,” the EU council president wrote. “But would you not agree that the only source of anxiety and uncertainty is rather the decision on Brexit?” | “It is a very interesting argument, the only problem being that it has nothing to do with reality,” the EU council president wrote. “But would you not agree that the only source of anxiety and uncertainty is rather the decision on Brexit?” |
| It echoed a rash of strong pronouncements by EU officials and European leaders, this week and last, betraying mounting frustration on the continent that Britain seems still to believe Europe does not really mean what it says on Brexit: | It echoed a rash of strong pronouncements by EU officials and European leaders, this week and last, betraying mounting frustration on the continent that Britain seems still to believe Europe does not really mean what it says on Brexit: |
| • The prime minister of Luxembourg, Xavier Bettel, poured cold water on the notion of a half-in, half-out transitional deal to cover the period between Britain leaving the EU at the end of article 50 talks and signing a comprehensive free trade agreement. | • The prime minister of Luxembourg, Xavier Bettel, poured cold water on the notion of a half-in, half-out transitional deal to cover the period between Britain leaving the EU at the end of article 50 talks and signing a comprehensive free trade agreement. |
| • Joseph Muscat of Malta said there is “absolutely no bluffing” when the EU27 insists Britain will not get the single market access it now has if it wants to curb migration. Seldom, he said, had he “witnessed ... as much convergence” as on Brexit. | • Joseph Muscat of Malta said there is “absolutely no bluffing” when the EU27 insists Britain will not get the single market access it now has if it wants to curb migration. Seldom, he said, had he “witnessed ... as much convergence” as on Brexit. |
| • Angela Merkel reportedly rejected out of hand a proposal from the UK government to seal a quick deal on the status of EU nationals living in Britain, and Britons living on the continent, before article 50 exit talks officially begin. | • Angela Merkel reportedly rejected out of hand a proposal from the UK government to seal a quick deal on the status of EU nationals living in Britain, and Britons living on the continent, before article 50 exit talks officially begin. |
| • Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the Dutch finance minister, described the Brexit promises being made by the British foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, as “intellectually impossible and politically unavailable”. | • Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the Dutch finance minister, described the Brexit promises being made by the British foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, as “intellectually impossible and politically unavailable”. |
| • Carlo Calenda, an Italian economics minister, appeared most exasperated, saying last week of Britain’s apparently impossible demands that “somebody needs to tell us something – and it needs to be something that makes sense”. | • Carlo Calenda, an Italian economics minister, appeared most exasperated, saying last week of Britain’s apparently impossible demands that “somebody needs to tell us something – and it needs to be something that makes sense”. |
| The frustration is not particularly over the time the Brexit process is taking: the EU would like things to move faster but has accepted that Britain needs time to assess its position and establish its negotiating goals. | The frustration is not particularly over the time the Brexit process is taking: the EU would like things to move faster but has accepted that Britain needs time to assess its position and establish its negotiating goals. |
| Nor are the institutions and member states launching a coordinated assault, or even toughening their stance. The language may sometimes be slightly more colourful, but Europe’s position on Brexit has not budged since 24 June. | Nor are the institutions and member states launching a coordinated assault, or even toughening their stance. The language may sometimes be slightly more colourful, but Europe’s position on Brexit has not budged since 24 June. |
| Officials in Brussels rejected the idea that Tusk’s letter represented a new tougher line from the EU, saying it was merely consistent with repeated declarations not to open negotiations before notification of article 50. | Officials in Brussels rejected the idea that Tusk’s letter represented a new tougher line from the EU, saying it was merely consistent with repeated declarations not to open negotiations before notification of article 50. |
| “It is not about toughening up the points, it is about setting the record straight,” said one. He added: “I am not sure if they are misinformed, or want to be misinformed. Maybe they need to to talk less and get themselves together more.” | “It is not about toughening up the points, it is about setting the record straight,” said one. He added: “I am not sure if they are misinformed, or want to be misinformed. Maybe they need to to talk less and get themselves together more.” |
| In the days after Britain’s EU referendum, Brussels and many EU capitals made the same three clear points: | In the days after Britain’s EU referendum, Brussels and many EU capitals made the same three clear points: |
| As Wolfgang Schäuble, Germany’s powerful finance minister, is fond of saying, when it comes to the rights and obligations of EU membership, “there is no à la carte menu. There is only the whole menu, or none.” | As Wolfgang Schäuble, Germany’s powerful finance minister, is fond of saying, when it comes to the rights and obligations of EU membership, “there is no à la carte menu. There is only the whole menu, or none.” |
| Since then, officials and leaders have heard Johnson insist free movement is not a founding principle of the union, and that Britain will keep preferential single market access because of the importance of prosecco and BMW sales. | Since then, officials and leaders have heard Johnson insist free movement is not a founding principle of the union, and that Britain will keep preferential single market access because of the importance of prosecco and BMW sales. |
| Theresa May has repeatedly said her top priority is to control EU immigration and remove Britain from the jurisdiction of the European court, while somehow “giving British companies maximum freedom to trade and operate in the single market”. | Theresa May has repeatedly said her top priority is to control EU immigration and remove Britain from the jurisdiction of the European court, while somehow “giving British companies maximum freedom to trade and operate in the single market”. |
| This week, notes – apparently from a meeting at the Department for Exiting the EU – photographed in an aide’s hand in Downing Street appeared to confirm the Brexit policy of David Davis, the minister in charge, was to “have cake and eat it”. | This week, notes – apparently from a meeting at the Department for Exiting the EU – photographed in an aide’s hand in Downing Street appeared to confirm the Brexit policy of David Davis, the minister in charge, was to “have cake and eat it”. |
| European officials and diplomats say it is hardly surprising exasperation is growing at Britain’s seeming unwillingness to accept the bloc’s clear, repeated and so far united position that what the UK appears to want from Brexit is not on offer. | European officials and diplomats say it is hardly surprising exasperation is growing at Britain’s seeming unwillingness to accept the bloc’s clear, repeated and so far united position that what the UK appears to want from Brexit is not on offer. |
| Member states have had no formal sessions to hash out their Brexit position, although the EU commission’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, has briefed officials on his approach. | Member states have had no formal sessions to hash out their Brexit position, although the EU commission’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, has briefed officials on his approach. |
| Tusk personally drafted his reply to the Eurosceptic backbenchers, opting for carefully worded criticism rather than a pro-forma letter with the usual diplomatic bromides. | Tusk personally drafted his reply to the Eurosceptic backbenchers, opting for carefully worded criticism rather than a pro-forma letter with the usual diplomatic bromides. |
| The EU leader, who was democratic Poland’s longest serving prime minister, is paying close attention to the rights of EU expats after Brexit, with an estimated 850,000 Poles settled in Britain. | The EU leader, who was democratic Poland’s longest serving prime minister, is paying close attention to the rights of EU expats after Brexit, with an estimated 850,000 Poles settled in Britain. |
| But he thinks it is impossible to carve out a separate agreement because the rights of EU nationals abroad touch on basic parts of the Brexit settlement that must be covered in article 50 talks: welfare, health, and access to work and education. | But he thinks it is impossible to carve out a separate agreement because the rights of EU nationals abroad touch on basic parts of the Brexit settlement that must be covered in article 50 talks: welfare, health, and access to work and education. |
| And he appears to have the backing of member states. One senior EU diplomat told the Guardian: “So far, the unity of the 27 has been absolutely amazing. Back in July I thought, give it a month or two and it will all crumble, but the Brexiteers have managed to unite the 27 in a way I have rarely seen them united in years.” | And he appears to have the backing of member states. One senior EU diplomat told the Guardian: “So far, the unity of the 27 has been absolutely amazing. Back in July I thought, give it a month or two and it will all crumble, but the Brexiteers have managed to unite the 27 in a way I have rarely seen them united in years.” |
| That unity may well be tested when Brexit talks get underway. “The further we go into the negotiation ... the more difficult it will be to maintain unity,” the diplomat said. But for the time being, the European front is holding firm – if becoming increasingly exasperated. | That unity may well be tested when Brexit talks get underway. “The further we go into the negotiation ... the more difficult it will be to maintain unity,” the diplomat said. But for the time being, the European front is holding firm – if becoming increasingly exasperated. |