UK’s Cameron Gets Okay For Successor To Trigger Brexit

By Matthew Tempest

(EurActiv) — British Prime Minister David Cameron was forced to deny the United Kingdom had collapsed “politically, monetarily, constitutionally and economically” last night, after his final summit with EU leaders before the UK leaves the bloc.

At a subdued and “sad” dinner with the other 27-leaders, Cameron confirmed and got agreement that his successor would “trigger without delay” Article 50 – the legal mechanism by which Britain leaves the EU after 43 years.

EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker later stressed that should come “the next day” after a new Prime Minister takes office in Downing Street.

President of the European Central Bank Mario Draghi had earlier briefed the dinner that growth across the euro area would be less by 0.3%-0.5% over the next three years, due to Brexit.

It’s a Nein

German Chancellor Angela Merkel seemed to crush any lingering hopes for the 48% of the British who voted to stay in the EU, saying “I don’t think it’s possible. The referendum is there as reality.”

“I don’t see a possibility to go back.”

She added: “It was a sad occasion, it was unfortunate, but it’s reality. We’re politicians. We’re not here to dwell very long on sadness. We made our regret clear but we have to accept the reality.”

Whilst some in Brussels have argued over who will lead the negotiations, it appears it will be a European Commission-led, Council-backed process.

According to two sources, the Irish delegation pushed hard to have a significant role in the negotiations, both due to their trading relationship with the UK, and the land border between North and South, which will become an EU Schengen border.

Scottish talks

Meanwhile, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon arrives in Brussels today (June 29) for talks with European Parliament President Martin Schulz, who told journalists he would be “listening” mode, rather than proposing solutions for the dilemma of Scotland voting to remain within the EU, against the overall UK vote.

Empty seat

The remaining 27-members of the EU will meet today, for their second day of the summit, without the UK.

Cameron, in his final, packed press conference just before midnight in Brussels, was keen to stress that triggering Article 50 would be a “sovereign” decision for the UK.

He also, in a line pushed by Downing Street officials, pushed the remaining 27 members to look at the free movement of people – something immediately slapped down by the Commission.

“We need to look at it, and Europe needs to look at it,” Cameron said.

The PM said he had hoped the February renegotiation – which he called “better than the status quo or leaving” – would have been enough to swing the referendum, which was dominated by immigration, but conceded it had not.

Failed state?

Responding to the comments by Mark Rutte earlier in the day, that England was effectively a failed state, having collapsed “politically, monetarily, constitutionally and economically”, Cameron replied “I just don’t believe that,” pointing to membership of the G7, the G20, NATO and the seat on the UN.

“We are one of the best connected nations in the world,” he declared.

However, trillions of dollars have been wiped off world markets since Thursday’s shock result, Cameron has resigned, notable Leave figureheads have been reluctant to appear in public to volunteer what happens next, and opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn has lost a vote of confidence – although he has not resigned.

In a clear warning to his successor , likely to be Boris Johnson or Home Secretary Theresa May, Cameron said the “negotiating aims” of the UK would have to be decided before triggering Article 50, and that it was “impossible to have all the rights” of being within the EU once the UK leaves.

Dealing with that, and freedom of movement, will be a “huge challenge for the future” he said.

He stressed European nations were still “our neighbours, allies, partners and friends”.

Juncker: One day to trigger Article 50

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, meanwhile, told journalists that the next British PM has “a day to trigger Article 50″.

“As long as there is no notification, there is no negotiation. I have told the whole staff of European commission not to have negotiation,” Juncker added.

On the internal market, he warned, “Either you are in or out. If you are out, you have to negotiate access to the market like the Swiss or Norway.”

Juncker also criticised the Leave leadership, saying: “What I don’t understand is that those who wanted to leave are totally unable to tell us what they want.

“They are saying we need some time. I thought if you want to leave you have a plan, a project a global pictures but they don’t have it.”

In a passionate final coda, he added, “My impression is that if you are, over years if not decades, telling your public that something is wrong with EU that this EU is too technocratic, bureaucratic, you are not taken by surprise if voters believe you.

“Blaming Brussels day after day, starting in the morning and finishing in the eve, telling them that Brussels is under the Commission ruled by bureaucrats, technocrats and non-elected people, then you can’t be surprised by the result.

“I like him [Cameron] as a person though he was behaving to me in a certain way – our friendship will remain that is the only thing that will remain.”

Tusk

EU Council President Donald Tusk was more conciliatory, saying “The negative effects are less negative than we expected before Brexit.

“The conversation was calm and measured. Leaders understand time needed to allow the dust to settle in UK.”

But he added, “Brexit means substantial variables in UK with possible negative spillover across the whole world

The Dutch PM, who holds the rotating presidency, added, “We have to accept that the negotiation will be time consuming, complex and I hope that they will be done in an amicable manner.

“We can’t afford to ignore this wake-up call. It’s not the time for wishful thinking, it’s the time for looking at reality. Resentment and anger are not a category of political action.”

Exit negotiations “have to be in the spirit of friendly relations,” Rutte concluded.

Storms ahead?

However, one EU diplomat warned ominously, “The European Union doesn’t have an identity, but now it has one thing in common: the problem of the British.”

He added, “The EU has bent over backwards to give [Cameron] the best chance in the referendum.

“We gave him the best possible deal. We bent over backwards six times for him.

Asked if anyone got Cameron a leaving present, the diplomat said: “Yeah, a dinner”.