On Tuesday 16 April in Strasbourg, MEPs delivered a generally positive assessment of the Twenty-Seven's decision on Wednesday 10 April, to grant the United Kingdom an additional six months to ensure an orderly exit from the European Union (see EUROPE 12233/1).
But some of them, such as Guy Verhofstadt (Belgium, ALDE), have been very critical, raising real questions about the holding of the European elections which now includes the United Kingdom and the sincere role that London will play in European affairs.
MEPs discussed the situation with the Presidents of the European Council, Donald Tusk, and the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker. For Tusk, who no longer hides his wish that the British completely review their exit strategy, things are very clear: this extension granted until 31 October must give "more time to the United Kingdom and more political space to find a solution". It also brings "stability to people and businesses".
Mr Tusk hoped that this additional time would be used to explore all options, between "ratification" of the orderly withdrawal agreement and "additional time to rethink Brexit". In these "difficult times", we need "dreamers”, he added.
The President of the European Council also attacked those in both the European Council and in the European Parliament who would be tempted to treat the United Kingdom as a second-category Member State. Recalling that the British have "rights and obligations", he attacked the "merchants of fear": saying the United Kingdom has so far behaved well towards the Twenty seven and “we have no reason to believe that this will change".
Mr Tusk was thus referring to the attitude of the French authorities, which had floated the idea of a United Kingdom with an intermediate status within the EU.
Jean-Claude Juncker described the decision of the Twenty-Seven as "responsible", which temporarily removed the risk of a no-deal Brexit. The EU has "nothing to gain from deep unrest in the United Kingdom" that ultimately benefits the "populists", he said, stressing that the EU would "never push a member out”. Nevertheless, the President of the Commission pointed out with irony that the date chosen, 31 October, corresponded exactly with the end of the European institution's current mandate.
The British Syed Kamall, leader of the ECR group, also welcomed the results of the European summit. Recognising that "many wonder what is happening in Westminster" and why this transparent dialogue was not "done sooner", he asked Europeans to understand the British political concept, which is not based on “coalitions like in the European Parliament". "It seems natural to you, but it is not part of the British tradition", insisted the British Conservative, a supporter of Brexit.
His compatriot Nigel Farage (EFDD) denounced the political deadlock in the United Kingdom, saying that "such chaos" was not the EU's fault. According to him, the upcoming European elections in the United Kingdom are the prelude, for his new Brexit party, to a victory in the country's upcoming parliamentary elections.
Concern about possible paralysis of the EU
On the side of the sceptics, Mr Verhofstadt warned the Twenty-seven against some negative consequences of granting a further delay of Brexit. "I fear it will prolong uncertainty [...] and that it will import the Brexit mess into the EU”, he argued. He added: the EU could find itself trapped in long negotiations with people “like Mr. Corbyn or Mr, Johnson who, in their hearts, despise Europe”.
On behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Germany's Gabi Zimmer also expressed her concern for the functioning of the European Parliament, after the elections in May (see other news). They should have "either left immediately or proposed a five-year extension" so that the MEPs who will be elected in the United Kingdom could fully carry out their mandate.
In front of the press, the leader of the EPP group, Germany's Manfred Weber, also said he was bothered by the British participation in the European elections. "We must safeguard the interests of the European Parliament. As MEPs, they [the British] will be entitled to take part in the work. We are not questioning this”, said the Christian Democratic candidate for President of the Commission, while wondering what kind of "influence" these MEPs might have on future work.
The EPP group has a lot to lose from British participation in the European elections, which could send large contingents of elected representatives from the Social Democrat, Eurosceptic and even Europhobe groups to Strasbourg. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic with Camille Cerise Gessant)