This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38650877
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Europe sees UK set for 'hard' Brexit after May speech | Europe sees UK set for 'hard' Brexit after May speech |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit speech is being seen in Europe as the "hard" option of full UK withdrawal - and there is some relief that the British position is clearer now. | Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit speech is being seen in Europe as the "hard" option of full UK withdrawal - and there is some relief that the British position is clearer now. |
| "Finally we have a little more clarity re the British plans," German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said. | "Finally we have a little more clarity re the British plans," German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said. |
| Germany also wanted a "close and trusting relationship", he said. | Germany also wanted a "close and trusting relationship", he said. |
| The Czech Europe Minister, Tomas Prouza, tweeted: "UK's plan seems a bit ambitious". | The Czech Europe Minister, Tomas Prouza, tweeted: "UK's plan seems a bit ambitious". |
| "Trade as free as possible, full control on immigration... where is the give for all the take?" he asked. | "Trade as free as possible, full control on immigration... where is the give for all the take?" he asked. |
| The Italian daily La Repubblica commented: "Out of the EU, out of common market, out of everything. It appears that Theresa May's intention through negotiations with the EU at the end of March is 'a hard Brexit' - a very hard Brexit indeed." | |
| BBC live coverage in full here. | BBC live coverage in full here. |
| May: UK must leave EU single market | May: UK must leave EU single market |
| One of the top EU officials, European Council president Donald Tusk, voiced regret but some relief too in a tweet: "Sad process, surrealistic times but at least more realistic announcement on #Brexit." | One of the top EU officials, European Council president Donald Tusk, voiced regret but some relief too in a tweet: "Sad process, surrealistic times but at least more realistic announcement on #Brexit." |
| Norway's Aftenposten daily said Mrs May's speech signalled "a clear rejection of a Norwegian-type involvement in the [EU] internal market". | Norway's Aftenposten daily said Mrs May's speech signalled "a clear rejection of a Norwegian-type involvement in the [EU] internal market". |
| Norway has very close ties to the EU - as a member of the European Economic Area (EEA) it has open, tariff-free access to the EU single market, though Norwegian fisheries and agriculture are excluded. | Norway has very close ties to the EU - as a member of the European Economic Area (EEA) it has open, tariff-free access to the EU single market, though Norwegian fisheries and agriculture are excluded. |
| The price for that advantage is high Norwegian contributions to the EU budget and automatic acceptance of most EU laws. | The price for that advantage is high Norwegian contributions to the EU budget and automatic acceptance of most EU laws. |
| "Even though she rejects the term, it is indeed a hard Brexit," commented France's Le Figaro daily. | "Even though she rejects the term, it is indeed a hard Brexit," commented France's Le Figaro daily. |
| 'The full whack' | 'The full whack' |
| Michael Fuchs, a close conservative ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, had accused Mrs May of "cherry-picking" in her speech, Sky News reported in a tweet. | Michael Fuchs, a close conservative ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, had accused Mrs May of "cherry-picking" in her speech, Sky News reported in a tweet. |
| EU politicians have stressed that they will not let the UK "cherry-pick" parts of its EU membership terms. | EU politicians have stressed that they will not let the UK "cherry-pick" parts of its EU membership terms. |
| They insist that the single market's four freedoms - covering goods, services, capital and labour - cannot be diluted. | They insist that the single market's four freedoms - covering goods, services, capital and labour - cannot be diluted. |
| The Dutch daily Algemeen Dagblad called Mrs May's speech "not just a bit of Brexit but the full whack". | The Dutch daily Algemeen Dagblad called Mrs May's speech "not just a bit of Brexit but the full whack". |
| "Bye bye EU... the unspoken, big threat from London is creating a tax paradise in front of the gates of Europe," it said. | "Bye bye EU... the unspoken, big threat from London is creating a tax paradise in front of the gates of Europe," it said. |
| Sweden's former Foreign Minister Carl Bildt tweeted: "I regret the approach the UK government has taken. | Sweden's former Foreign Minister Carl Bildt tweeted: "I regret the approach the UK government has taken. |
| "I think most of the EU would have preferred a closer relationship with the UK." | "I think most of the EU would have preferred a closer relationship with the UK." |
| Sweden has long been one of the UK's closest allies in the EU. | Sweden has long been one of the UK's closest allies in the EU. |