The very only prime minister | NZZ



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The negotiation of Theresa May in Brussels is understood by few people at home.

Markus Häfliger, London

In addition to the EU summit, Theresa May also fought the opposition and EU-friendly supporters in her own ranks in Brussels. (Image: Toby Melville / Reuters)

In addition to the EU summit, Theresa May also fought the opposition and EU-friendly supporters in her own ranks in Brussels. (Image: Toby Melville / Reuters)

If Brussels wanted to help British Prime Minister Theresa May extend the transition period after Brexit, the attempt failed. May sparked a wave of outrage at home after hosting the proposal at the EU summit. An extension of the deadline from the end of 2020 to the end of 2021 has made Britain a vassal state, called "Brexit extremists". Even moderate Conservative MPs and Cabinet members who support May have reacted with annoyance.

On a thin line

In addition to the EU summit, the Prime Minister has also irritated the opposition and EU supporters in favor of the EU. It was announced its intention to limit the participation of Parliament in the adoption of an agreement on Brexit. According to a message from Brexit Minister Dominic Raab in the House of Commons, the House of Commons should decide on an agreement, if necessary, without being able to change the procedure. Proponents of a second referendum seek to complement the draft law on the agreement accordingly.

EU Council President Donald Tusk confirmed at the end of the summit that it was "likely" to extend the transition period beyond 2020. The rationale for both sides is that the The question of the internal border, which is currently blocking an agreement, must be solved carefully and in the long term. The future trade agreement, to be negotiated in March, aims to ensure that the EU's external border between Ireland (remaining in the EU) and Northern Ireland (leaving it behind). ) remains smooth and that the controversial support, which applies only to Northern Ireland, should not be used at all. This is a facade: the dispute over the safety net reveals a conflict of aims in the British position; An extension of the discussions does not make it leave the world.

At the EU summit in Brussels, talks on blocked negotiations in Brexit are at the center of concern. Photo: British Prime Minister Theresa May talks with her Spanish counterpart Pedro Sánchez, while European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker focuses on talks with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte (18:10). (Image: Toby Melville / Reuters)
In a good mood, Angela Merkel appears on the second day of the summit (6:10 pm). (Image: Toby Melville / Reuters)
Deeply studied, French President Emmanuel Macron and Jean-Claude Juncker are studying an article. The thematic agenda is structured around two axes: discussions on the Community's controversial asylum policy, security and the monetary union (18.10.). (Image: Toby Melville / Reuters)
The first day of the summit was devoted to the debate on Brexit. But
May did not make any new proposals on Wednesday night. On Thursday, however, it was open for a longer transition period after Brexit (18:10). (Image: Yves Herman / Reuters)
The President of the EU Council, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, demanded on his arrival a movement in the long-standing dispute over European asylum policy (18.10.). (Image: Toby Melville / Reuters)
At the round table, the 28 participants discussed. Thursday afternoon, the discussion on the reform of the monetary union will bring together 27 other EU Member States, with the exception of Britain, including countries belonging to the EU. not to the euro zone. (Photo: Piroschka van de Wouw / Reuters)
At noon, it is the reform of the monetary union. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte is criticized for his country's budget. Although this is not the order of the day, there must be a "constructive" dialogue (18.10.). (Image: Francois Lenoir / Reuters)
On Wednesday 17 October, the heads of state and government of the 28 EU countries arrived in Brussels for the two-day European summit to be held in autumn (17.10). (Photo: Piroschka van de Wouw / Reuters)
For Theresa May, there was a peck of Jean-Claude Juncker (17:10). (Image: Yves Herman / Reuters)
Angela Merkel has her own program at the edge of the summit: this is how she met her colleagues, Giuseppe Conte and Morawiecki (Poland). And late Wednesday night, she was seen during a warm round in a brewery (17:10). (Photo: Piroschka van de Wouw / Reuters)
In addition to Macron, the brewery tour brought together Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel (right, in conversation with Jean-Claude Juncker) and Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel (17:10). (Image: Toby Melville / Reuters)
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte (right) arrived at the summit on Wednesday. In the evening, he said: "In the case of a scenario of lack of agreement, we must be prepared." The Netherlands has already hired many new customs officers to prepare for the check (17.10.). (Image: Francois Lenoir / Reuters)

Brexit at the center of the EU summit

The idea of ​​an extension is probably due to the fact that the timetable set for the transition period from April 2019 to the end of 2020 will not be enough to complete the next phase of negotiations. 21 months are not enough, says Simon Usherwood, deputy director of the think tank "The United Kingdom in a changing Europe" and author of a Study on the transition phase. Brexit supporters are happy to negotiate that the future bilateral relationship will be a Sunday march, as the British already have the EU's own acquis in their own laws. But the logic does not work, especially when the lowest common denominator between the EU and London results in an enriched free trade agreement (the "Canada model"). In any case, the transition phase will have to be extended, Usherwood says. This must happen soon and be included in the retraction contract; after the Brexit in March, it lacks a legal basis.

A delay would raise many concerns. London is expected to make substantial funding, even though it will no longer be consulted on the decision on the next EU budget plan (2021-2027). Companies should consider new uncertainties and the possibility of failed negotiations. Conservative MPs also noted that an agreement just a few months before the next legislative elections scheduled for May 2022 could hinder their re-election.

Frustration in Brussels

If the EU summit showed one, May's attempt to drag out the ongoing talks on the divorce treaty. If the agreement on Brexit had already materialized, the Conservative Conservatives would have dislodged for six weeks. May, December, May hope to take the wind in their sails. The price is that she has snubbed the trading partners. EU heads of state and government launched Thursday a beautiful day and tried to avoid a scandal similar to that of last month in Salzburg. But the frustration of not receiving new proposals from London is therefore no less.

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