This article is from the source 'guardian' 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.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jun/14/perks-end-uk-eu-guy-verhofstadt

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Perks will end if UK ends up staying in EU, says Guy Verhofstadt Perks will stop if UK ends up staying in EU, says Guy Verhofstadt
(35 minutes later)
Britain is free to change its mind and stay in the European Union, but would have to give up special perks, including the hard-fought budget rebate, the European parliament’s coordinator on Brexit has said. Britain is free to change its mind and stay in the EU, but would have to give up special perks including the hard-fought budget rebate, the European parliament’s coordinator on Brexit has said.
The Liberal MEP Guy Verhofstadt picked up comments by the French president, Emmanuel Macron, on Monday that the door to the EU would remain open to Britain during Brexit negotiations. The Liberal MEP Guy Verhofstadt picked up on comments made by the French president, Emmanuel Macron, on Tuesday that the door to the EU would remain open to Britain during Brexit negotiations.
“I agree,” Verhofstadt said. “But like Alice in Wonderland, not all the doors are the same. It will be a brand new door, with a new Europe, a Europe without rebates, without complexity, with real powers and with unity.” “I agree,” he said. “But like Alice in Wonderland, not all the doors are the same. It will be a brand new door, with a new Europe, a Europe without rebates, without complexity, with real powers and with unity.”
The Belgian politician, who leads the liberal group in the parliament, is a staunch federalist, who has long objected to the British rebate negotiated by Margaret Thatcher, which gives the UK a generous discount on EU membership fees. Opposition to the British rebate is widely shared in the EU and the issue was bound to have been on the table in the next round of EU budget negotiations if Britain planned to stay. The Belgian politician, who leads the liberal group in the parliament, is a staunch federalist and has long objected to the British rebate negotiated by Margaret Thatcher, which gives the UK a generous discount on EU membership fees.
The UK also enjoys a permanent opt-out from joining the single currency and can pick and choose on some justice and police policies – special arrangements that irritate some politicians who think it makes the EU too complicated. Opposition to the British rebate is widely shared in the EU and the issue was bound to have been on the table in the next round of EU budget negotiations if Britain had planned to stay.
Macron and Verhofstadt were clear the door would close once Britain formally leaves the EU at the end of Brexit negotiations in March 2019. From that moment the door is shut and Britain would have to apply for membership if it wished to re-join. The UK also enjoys a permanent opt-out from joining the single currency and can pick and choose on some justice and police policies – special arrangements that irritate some politicians who think they make the EU too complicated.
The Belgian MEP was speaking at a debate before an EU summit next week, which will be the first time Theresa May faces all EU leaders since her humiliation at the ballot box. As is now customary, the 27 leaders are expected to meet without the British prime minister for an update on Brexit. But the agenda is dedicated to defence and migration, two areas the EU prioritises for deeper cooperation. EU diplomats are unwilling to allow Brexit to derail the rest of the EU’s plans, as they seek to stress the bloc is moving on without Britain. Macron and Verhofstadt were clear that the door would close once Britain formally leaves the EU at the end of Brexit negotiations in March 2019. From that moment, the door is shut and Britain would have to apply for membership if it wished to rejoin.
Jean-Claude Juncker, the European commission president, did not refer to Brexit during his address to MEPs as he called for action on his latest defence co-operation plan. “The simple truth is that no European country alone can tackle the scale and complexity of the challenges we face,” Juncker said. “Neither can we rely on any foreign power to do it for us. We cannot outsource our own security.” Verhofstadt was speaking at a debate before an EU summit next week, which will be the first time Theresa May faces all EU leaders since her humiliation at the ballot box.
As is now customary, the 27 leaders are expected to meet without the British prime minister for an update on Brexit. But the agenda is dedicated to defence and migration, two areas the EU prioritises for deeper cooperation. EU diplomats are unwilling to allow Brexit to derail the rest of the EU’s plans as they seek to stress that the bloc is moving on without Britain.
Jean-Claude Juncker, the European commission president, did not refer to Brexit during his address to MEPs as he called for action on his latest defence cooperation plan. “The simple truth is that no European country alone can tackle the scale and complexity of the challenges we face,” he said. “Neither can we rely on any foreign power to do it for us. We cannot outsource our own security.”
Juncker’s chief of staff has said the commission leader will spend no more than half an hour a week on Brexit.Juncker’s chief of staff has said the commission leader will spend no more than half an hour a week on Brexit.