The most important aspect of any negotiation is the walkaway point. If the EU wants to be obstinate, walk away; the individual nations need the UK more than the UK needs them, so individual deals will be made, whether open or otherwise.
The UK is a net importer with respect to the Continent.
The UK has the power and leverage.
The UK has, under the General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs, access to the Continental market.
The UK will be in the same boat as the US in respect to the Continental market.
The UK simply can not afford to pay British level welfare benefits to every possible Continental freeloader and vagrant that might come to the UK.
The EU is asking the UK to commit to doing things the UK simply can’t afford to do. It would be like asking me to repay a $300,000 mortgage - can’t do - won’t agree to do.
One finds out how truly bad one’s spouse is during a divorce.
And England will reply with it’s requirements for EU access to it’s market.
Then they can negotiate.
AP sure is presenting an especially stupid narrative on Brexit!
I consider the EU to be a more dangerous entity to the USA than Russia is.
Their propensity to act like petty fascists illustrates my concern.
Hey, Brits...Tell them to Kiss your arses.
If Trump gets in, all he has to do to put a damper on this crap is tell the EU dorks that if they want to trade with the USA, they will have to deal with the UK, that is where the USA is going to set up its distribution network for goods going into the EU.
Oh and BTW. When Trump gets in the UK will become a big buyer of US energy. NG will become really important to the UK since the Russians are using it to their (Russian) advantage.
The North Sea wont last long.
As island nations, Ireland and the UK were allowed to be in the EU and also control their borders, in which they share control allowing free flow between the two of them. Why this would change for the UK as a condition of being part of the EU economic area, and how this could change for the UK and not for Ireland, I don’t know.
Norway and Switzerland are the two largest non-EU countries that are part of the EU economic zone. Being continental countries, they allow free flow of people as well as goods and capital. They are expected to adopt EU economic regulations and industrial standards, in which they only have a passive voice to determine. Many of these are innocuous. Some of them make sense. But, they keep coming, more and more of them. At some point if not already, this will be very bothersome.
The number of displaced persons entering Europe has proven very troubling. A number of countries are seeking control of their borders. Many of these people are not able to earn of living or of conducting themselves as members of a free society. And, as a result of there being so many of them, they are able to form ethnic enclaves in which they and their children resist assimilation.
Obviously, if the EU doesn’t get its head out of its egress, the European project will fail. More EU countries will opt out, and Germany will be left along with its welfare clients to its south.
Britain: "We have money. You have goods. Let's trade."
EU: "Here's our list of non-negotiable demands."
Britain: "Fine. We have China and the United States on speed dial."
These are not freedoms at all.
While countries have a duty to help the most oppressed seeking asylum, they also have a right to establish immigration policies based on the country's need and their ability to incorporate asylum seekers.
There is no right that allows unelected officials (or elected ones, for that matter) to violate these principles of sovereign nations ... None!