EU Council President Donald Tusk has warned that after deciding to leave the European Union, the UK has no option but to pursue a ‘Hard Brexit’.
Speaking in Brussels at the European Policy Centre, The EU Council President stated that the UK would not be able to retain access to the single market without accepting freedom of movement or continuing to make EU budget contributions.
“If you ask if there is any alternative for this bad scenario, I would like to tell you that, yes, there is, and I think it is useless to speculate about “soft Brexit” because of all the reasons I have mentioned. This would be purely theoretical speculations. In my opinion, the only real alternative to a “hard Brexit” is no Brexit. Even if today hardly anyone believes in such a possibility”, Tusk said in his speech.
“The brutal truth is that Brexit will be a loss for all of us. There will be no cakes on the table for anyone. There will be only salt and vinegar.
“We will conduct negotiations in good faith, defend the interests of the EU 27, minimise the costs and seek the best possible deal for all, but as I have said before, no such outcome that will benefit either side. Of course, it is, and can only be for the UK to assess the outcome of the negotiations, and determine if Brexit is really in their interests.”
Following his speech, Donald Tusk tweeted:
The essence of Brexit as defined in the UK referendum campaign means radically loosening relations with the EU, a de facto “hard Brexit”
— Donald Tusk (@eucopresident) October 13, 2016
This is a serious blow to advocates of a so called ‘Soft Brexit’ approach to leaving the European Union, with Mr Tusk set to be a crucial figure in the various Brexit negotiations.
Donald Tusk’s remarks echo the sentiment expressed by Theresa May in her Conservative party speech, in which she rejected “the false dichotomy” made between “Hard and Soft Brexit”.
Prime Minister Theresa May has stated that the government intends to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty – beginning formal Brexit negotiations between the UK and EU – by the end of March of 2017.
The process will take up to two years, and will involve deliberating over solutions to complex issues such as immigration controls and access to the European single market area.