Strasbourg, 11/05/2016 (Agence Europe) - Alain Lamassoure MEP (EPP, France) said on Wednesday 11 May that he was astounded that no one was asking what was to be done in the wake of the referendum on 23 June were the United Kingdom to vote not to remain in the European Union.
“Legally, the situation is far from clear” with regard to what should happen in the intervening period while the country negotiates its withdrawal from the EU, he told the press on Wednesday. In his view, it would be politically unacceptable for the UK to continue to be involved in the life of the EU and in negotiations on texts “which will not apply to it but to us”. At the same time, were the UK to leave the EU on 24 June, it would be difficult to reach a qualified majority in the European Parliament without the 73 UK MEPs. Changes to the rules of procedure would, therefore, seem to be required.
“No one has asked anyone anything. The issue has to be looked at calmly and unemotionally”, said Lamassoure, adding that the reason given for the silence was that the EU did not want to give the impression of having a plan B. In his view, since option A (that is, that the UK remains part of the EU) has been marked out, why not mark out option B (Brexit).
His fellow EPP member and fellow countrywoman Françoise Grossetête said that her understanding was that Commission lawyers were working on this matter. But, she said, she failed to understand why the Parliament's constitutional matters committee was not also working on it. She quoted the comments made by EPP Group leader Manfred Weber (Germany) the previous day at a group meeting that, were the UK to vote to leave the EU, it would have to withdraw from all Community discussions and work. He also raised the possibility of a plenary session at the end of June, after the referendum, if the “leave” campaign were to win. (Original version in French by Elodie Lamer)
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