Most of the Remain voters expressed their fear on that fateful day Britain decided to quit the EU. Beneath these fears, lay a diminishing ray of hope that the whole thing could be reversed. They hoped that a second referendum could be called before the formal withdrawal processes is instigated, but all that remains a dream – just as it was from the very beginning.
It’s now time for the Remain Camp to wake up from the slumber land and live in reality – Theresa May has triggered Article 50. The withdrawal is now in its initial stages of being formalized and undoubtedly will progress to the very end. There is nothing standing in the way, especially now that Parliament has no say in the matter.
There is no turning back on this defining moment within the British history books. Theresa May will remain the female Prime Minister who saw to it that Article 50 triggered.
Just as she said at after the formal signing by Britain’s EU ambassador, a signature that starts a two year exit process. A copy of the signed letter was handed to somber-looking EU Council President Donald Tusk, who said that this was a sad day for him and the EU.
The European Parliament has already made it clear that security cooperation would not be part of the negotiations – a precursor that the discussions would not be anyone’s daily cup of tea.
What the Exit Letter Contained
Ms May was very articulate in her letter to the EU, triggering Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty. She said that dilly darling to strike a trade deal fast enough would negatively impact their fight against terrorism and crime.
But it did not take long for a counter attack to be ensued, with Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament’s chief Brexit negotiator, saying that trade and security negotiations would not be on the table. “I think the security of our citizens is far too important to start a trade off from one for the other.”
Chances of the EU declining to share intelligence with Europol, the EU policing agency, are high, especially if security agreement is not reached. That’s at least according to Home Secretary Amber Rudd.
May stated that it is her desire to “maintain the degree of co-operation on these matters that we have currently”.
Downing Street also came to the defense of the PM, saying that she hadn’t issued a threat to the EU negotiators, adding that her comments were mere facts because existing arrangements would lapse if Britain left the EU without a deal.
A bitter Split
It is expected the separation to be a bitter one, with the EU reliably informed ready to make it difficult for the leaving partner. The difficulties are meant to deter any other country which may have such motives.
The gloomy-looking Tusk, after receiving the letter, said that he wouldn’t pretend that the day was a good one – in Brussels or in London. “After all, most Europeans, – including almost half the British voters, wished that we would stay together, not drift apart. As for me, I will not pretend that I am happy today,” Tusk said.
Mr Tusk added that the exit had helped all the other 27 EU members more committed to the union than ever.
We already miss you, he finalized.
The exit has left many questioning the future of the EU citizens residing in the United Kingdom. The kind of deal reached should be one that favors the citizens, even if Parliament cannot approve or disapprove the final deal struck. The negotiators must bear in mind that UK and EU citizens are spread all over the union member states.
