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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jan/16/eu-leaders-say-uk-can-reverse-brexit-decision-if-it-wants-to
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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| EU leaders say UK can reverse Brexit decision if it wants to | EU leaders say UK can reverse Brexit decision if it wants to |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker say door to EU remains open if Britain changes its mind on Brexit | Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker say door to EU remains open if Britain changes its mind on Brexit |
| Jennifer Rankin in Brussels | Jennifer Rankin in Brussels |
| Tue 16 Jan 2018 10.28 GMT | Tue 16 Jan 2018 10.28 GMT |
| Last modified on Tue 16 Jan 2018 10.48 GMT | |
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| The door remains open to the European Union if the UK wants to change its mind on Brexit, the most senior leaders of the EU institutions have said. | The door remains open to the European Union if the UK wants to change its mind on Brexit, the most senior leaders of the EU institutions have said. |
| In a speech to MEPs, Donald Tusk, the head of the European council, suggested reversing Brexit was still a possibility in his mind. “If the UK government sticks to its decision to leave, Brexit will become a reality – with all its negative consequences – in March next year. Unless there is a change of heart among our British friends.” | In a speech to MEPs, Donald Tusk, the head of the European council, suggested reversing Brexit was still a possibility in his mind. “If the UK government sticks to its decision to leave, Brexit will become a reality – with all its negative consequences – in March next year. Unless there is a change of heart among our British friends.” |
| Tusk recalled the words of the UK Brexit secretary, David Davis, who said in 2013 that “if a democracy cannot change its mind, it ceases to be a democracy”. Quoting these remarks, Tusk said: “We, here on the continent, haven’t had a change of heart. Our hearts are still open to you.” | Tusk recalled the words of the UK Brexit secretary, David Davis, who said in 2013 that “if a democracy cannot change its mind, it ceases to be a democracy”. Quoting these remarks, Tusk said: “We, here on the continent, haven’t had a change of heart. Our hearts are still open to you.” |
| Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European commission, endorsed this conclusion. “[Tusk] said our door still remains open and I hope that will be heard clearly in London.” | Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European commission, endorsed this conclusion. “[Tusk] said our door still remains open and I hope that will be heard clearly in London.” |
| Tusk’s emollient tone contrasted with tougher language from some of the key MEPs involved in the process. | Tusk’s emollient tone contrasted with tougher language from some of the key MEPs involved in the process. |
| Manfred Weber, the German politician and leader of the centre-right bloc in the European parliament, attacked the integrity of Theresa May and her government and its choice of priorities. | Manfred Weber, the German politician and leader of the centre-right bloc in the European parliament, attacked the integrity of Theresa May and her government and its choice of priorities. |
| “The first problem is about honesty, the whole story is a scam,” said the MEP, in a reference to a recent announcement about blue passports. | “The first problem is about honesty, the whole story is a scam,” said the MEP, in a reference to a recent announcement about blue passports. |
| EU law did not mandate the colour of passports and Croatia has had navy passports for years, Weber said in a withering speech. He expressed scorn that the British government had chosen to say it was changing the colour of passports before announcing its vision for a future relationship with the EU. | EU law did not mandate the colour of passports and Croatia has had navy passports for years, Weber said in a withering speech. He expressed scorn that the British government had chosen to say it was changing the colour of passports before announcing its vision for a future relationship with the EU. |
| “If I was a British citizen I would be deeply worried about the priorities of my government,” he said. | “If I was a British citizen I would be deeply worried about the priorities of my government,” he said. |
| The British government has called on the EU to be clearer about its goals for the future trading relationship with Britain – a request that has received a near-universal rebuff from EU political and business leaders. | The British government has called on the EU to be clearer about its goals for the future trading relationship with Britain – a request that has received a near-universal rebuff from EU political and business leaders. |
| “What we need today is more clarity on the UK’s vision,” said Tusk. “Once we have that, the leaders will meet and decide on the way the EU sees its future relationship with the UK as a third country.” He added that “the hardest work is still ahead of us and time is limited”. | “What we need today is more clarity on the UK’s vision,” said Tusk. “Once we have that, the leaders will meet and decide on the way the EU sees its future relationship with the UK as a third country.” He added that “the hardest work is still ahead of us and time is limited”. |
| Brexit | Brexit |
| Donald Tusk | Donald Tusk |
| Jean-Claude Juncker | Jean-Claude Juncker |
| European Union | European Union |
| Europe | Europe |
| Foreign policy | Foreign policy |
| news | news |
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