Brexit negotiations will start this month, most likely on March 14 when Prime Minister Theresa May addresses Parliament. The EU has Prepared Brexit Guidelines.
Meanwhile, Jean-Claude Juncker is in fantasyland. Juncker Hopes the UK will Eventually ‘Re-Enter the Boat’.
One UK government official involved in the process said he “hoped” that Article 50 could begin on Tuesday when Mrs May is due to address the House of Commons, but would certainly start by the end of the week.
Donald Tusk, the EU Council president, said that other European capitals would be ready to issue draft “guidelines” for negotiations within 48 hours. The EU is “well prepared for all procedures”, he said, at the conclusion of a meeting at which Europe’s political elite continued fleshing out plans for life without the UK in the bloc.
Mrs. May faces votes in both houses of parliament on Monday which are likely to give her the authority to begin Brexit.
The prime minister will make a statement to parliament on this week’s Brussels summit on Tuesday, a day later than usual, prompting speculation that she may use the moment to start the two-year negotiation period.
Juncker Hopes UK Will “Re-Enter the Boat”
European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker hopes Brexit isn’t for life.
After a morning discussing the future of the Europe with the heads of state from the EU’s 27 member governments and newly re-elected council president Donald Tusk, President Juncker expressed hope the UK would one day come back into the fold.
“I don’t like Brexit, because I would like to be in the same boat as the British. The day will come when the British will re-enter the boat, I hope,” he said.
Boat Has Left the Dock
Is Juncker drinking again?
Regardless, the Brexit boat has left the dock and will never return again.
Mike “Mish” Shedlock
“Re-enter the boat” Yes! Leave the lifeboat and get back onto the Titanic!
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Juncker hopes Britain will re-enter the EUS Titanic.
BTW, I like that smile in the picture. Should be named liquorish smile.
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Delusion springs eternal.
Isn’t this the same drunk, unelected bureaucrat that spent his few moments of relative sobriety promising to punish the UK? Now that his liquor told him everyone else is going to leave his insolvent reign, now he wants to be friends with England?
Somebody put LSD into Juncker’s booze…
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Nah, the leaders of other planets, with whom he occasionally confers, probably told him to soften his tone.
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Is Juncker drinking again?
BWAHHAHAHAHAHHA
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Keep an eye on Poland. They are being threatened with losing funding if they veto a 2 speed Europe. Polish PM not happy with what they consider blackmail. Already annoyed that Tusk will get a 2nd term now they are against a multispeed Europe – I don’t blame them.
François Hollande furious. Sounds like more threats of punishment or could be used to get Poland to be anti-British in negotiations. Tensions rising between Germany and Poland too.
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The UK has its own Deep State and 5th Column.
We haven’t left the EU yet and I won’t believe we will until it happens.
The House of Lords is stuffed full of people wanting to sabotage efforts to leave the bloc. BBC is too. Upper echelons of business, academia etc also. The State has its strings pulled from Brussels. It’s a stitch-up.
Trust no one.
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UK has it’s own deep state? You got to be kidding: UK invented the deep state along with that democracy thing. And who might be that supra-national 5th column?
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“Is Juncker drinking again?”
All possibilities must be considered.
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If Theresa Mays Government carries on as is it will lose the next election or be in coalition and then the UK will be heading back into the EU.
Coming down heavily on the House of Lords might help her. Ordinary people can see what’s going on but the Government appears powerless and weak.
Yesterday’s budget was also a little ham-fisted. Care is needed with a strong hand on the tiller. The longer she leaves it before calling an election the weaker she is likely to become. A clear mandate with the voters, and more seats, would give her a chance to push through needed reforms including addressing the House of Lords.
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Split up and privatise the BBC too.
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Britain will join a European Free Trade organisation in the future; however this will be a real EFTA with no organisation in Brussels. What Europe needs is a free trade agreement. What Europe does not need is Brussels or indeed a European Parliament.
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.. what leaves the boat (UK of GB&NI) is not the same passenger(s) who Juncker wants to re-embark. Simultaneous (or maybe earlier) with Brexit will be Scottish (& Maybe NI) Independence and since the English rump is more firmly pro-Brexit than the Celtic fringe. Let them go forth and be subsidised by Brussels ..
None of this matters of course since both Brexiteers and Bremoaners have grossly exaggerated their cases and both sides are like the editors of the Great Soviet Encyclopedia who took credit for everything beneficial on the planet..
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