Open trading account 
European Union leaders headed into their first Brexit summit are convinced that when it comes to the pending talks with the U.K. they’re already winning.
Governments approached Saturday’s meeting in Brussels by repeatedly toughening their negotiating position and reinforcing the united front they adopted since Britain voted to quit the bloc last June. Prime Minister Theresa May’s administration, meanwhile, has shown a willingness to give ground on key matters involving finance, trade and immigration.
The British concessions mean EU officials in the 27 countries are increasingly hopeful that May will realize that the terms of Brexit will be set by them more than her. The need for the U.K. to be pragmatic in unraveling 44 years of membership was highlighted this week by German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s warning that the U.K. government shouldn’t be under any illusion that Europe will be soft on it.
“The British have been on a steep learning curve when it comes to what the red lines are and what they can reasonably expect to achieve,” said Christian Odendahl, chief economist at the Centre for European Reform. “The EU has been remarkably consistent over the last couple of months when it comes to its position.”
Deterring Others
The goal of the meeting is to rubber-stamp guidelines for the talks, which are now set to begin after the U.K.’s June 8 election. The drafting of the strategy over the past month has gone remarkably smoothly, said EU diplomats in Brussels and national capitals. The result is a common position based around ensuring Britain pays a price for leaving and isn’t better off outside the bloc so that others won’t try to follow.
Among the aims listed in the document are that the British pay a financial settlement before they get to discuss a future trade deal and that any transition from Brexit comes with continued financial, regulatory and legal ties to the bloc.
It all contrasts with what they perceive as muddled thinking and unrealistic ambitions on the British side with questions still unanswered on who in government to engage with. There’s not even a telephone number in the U.K. to call when a problem arises, one EU diplomat said on Friday.
The extent to which Europe believes it has the upper hand was highlighted by Merkel’s wake-up call to Britain on Thursday. That followed feedback she’d received from talks a day earlier between May and EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, a second diplomat said.
“We want to be partners, but we also want to defend our interests,” Merkel said in an interview with German broadcaster NDR on Thursday. “I think everybody understands that, because the Britons want to defend their interests, too -- and they tell us that every day.”
Governments approached Saturday’s meeting in Brussels by repeatedly toughening their negotiating position and reinforcing the united front they adopted since Britain voted to quit the bloc last June. Prime Minister Theresa May’s administration, meanwhile, has shown a willingness to give ground on key matters involving finance, trade and immigration.
The British concessions mean EU officials in the 27 countries are increasingly hopeful that May will realize that the terms of Brexit will be set by them more than her. The need for the U.K. to be pragmatic in unraveling 44 years of membership was highlighted this week by German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s warning that the U.K. government shouldn’t be under any illusion that Europe will be soft on it.
“The British have been on a steep learning curve when it comes to what the red lines are and what they can reasonably expect to achieve,” said Christian Odendahl, chief economist at the Centre for European Reform. “The EU has been remarkably consistent over the last couple of months when it comes to its position.”
Deterring Others
The goal of the meeting is to rubber-stamp guidelines for the talks, which are now set to begin after the U.K.’s June 8 election. The drafting of the strategy over the past month has gone remarkably smoothly, said EU diplomats in Brussels and national capitals. The result is a common position based around ensuring Britain pays a price for leaving and isn’t better off outside the bloc so that others won’t try to follow.
Among the aims listed in the document are that the British pay a financial settlement before they get to discuss a future trade deal and that any transition from Brexit comes with continued financial, regulatory and legal ties to the bloc.
It all contrasts with what they perceive as muddled thinking and unrealistic ambitions on the British side with questions still unanswered on who in government to engage with. There’s not even a telephone number in the U.K. to call when a problem arises, one EU diplomat said on Friday.
The extent to which Europe believes it has the upper hand was highlighted by Merkel’s wake-up call to Britain on Thursday. That followed feedback she’d received from talks a day earlier between May and EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, a second diplomat said.
“We want to be partners, but we also want to defend our interests,” Merkel said in an interview with German broadcaster NDR on Thursday. “I think everybody understands that, because the Britons want to defend their interests, too -- and they tell us that every day.”
