Behind the coughs.
Here’s what Theresa May’s Florence speech was about.
22.09.2017
The Florence speech was the third major time when Theresa May was meant to express herself about her plans for Brexit. She flew to Italy with no other agenda than this. You also ask yourself the question don’t you?
Why Florence again?
Symbols are fundamental. As to a speech, they set both the background and the core messages. This speech was meant to provide updates about the negotiations with the EU and to express the UK government’s whishes “for a deep and special partnership with the European Union once the UK leaves the EU”. Therefore, the chosen place had to be a European reference, to reflect time for expressing the “depth” of the partnership and to have had a special link with the UK in its history.
Florence holds all these characteristics. As the birthplace of the Renaissance in Europe, its history is deeply rooted in the core of our common culture. Besides, the Medici made it one of the most important European trade center, and, by the time, London was a key part of its economy.
“The UK has had deep cultural and economic ties spanning centuries with Florence, a city known for its historical trading power. As the UK leaves the EU, we will retain those close ties. As the prime minister has said on many occasions, we are leaving the EU, not Europe”.
May’s Spokesman.
Key points
The least we could keep from this speech was the hand May’s extended to Europe. Some see it as a sign of weakness, others consider it as generosity.
- Transition period. There will be a transition period of about two years in which the UK will be able to benefit free movement while abiding the EU rules (and therefore the ECJ’s jurisdiction. See why it’s an issue here: https://nationall.eu/brexit-second-round-of-talks-43d5ccd00cc3)
- Payment to the EU. There’s a European budget for European projects. Each country gives for the whole area in order to finance projects which makes the bloc more competitive as a whole. The actual budget round is ending in 2020. What happens to the English share once it will leave the EU? Well, Theresa May said the UK will keep paying something whithout mentioning how much exactly. The Guardian talks about £18bn, noticing that the EU asks for far more, between £50bn and £100bn.
- Citizen’s rights. Rather than allowing the UK’s MPs to vote about the situation of the EU citizens living in the UK, T. May offered to incorporate in advance into UK law what will be decided for them during the negociations. Furthermore, she returned to her remarks on the ECJ role after March 2019:
“I want UK courts to be able to take into account the judgments of the European court of justice with a view to ensuring consistent interpretation.”
Theresa May.
- Defence. T. May asked for a bold cooperation between both sides, and said the UK was “unconditionally committed” to European security.
- Economic relations. For the EU, the question is rather the UK wants a Norway or a Canada kind of deal. Incorporated in the European Economic Area Agreement, the first one allows a full and free access to the EU’s internal market. However, it forces the target country to incorporate a significant amount of EU’s legislations in its own set of laws. The second one known as the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement allows the target area to keep its sovereignty from the EU but implies some restrictions on the market access. Theresa May asks for a middle way, showing how the UK cannot be compared neither to Norway nor to Canada because the EU laws are already incorporated in the UK ones. But for Michel Barnier, the European Chief Negociator for Brexit, there could not be such thing as a middle way.
- The Irish border. The subject has been mentioned but no new suggestion has been made.
Source: The Guardian.
How is it going then?
Weak or strong? Some saw a ballet of weaknesses, showing both indecision for a delaying tactic and a retreat to a softer Brexit. On the contrary, some argued these concessions are a friendly move towards the EU which still assure to the UK its sovereignty. One of our writer pointed the misunderstanding between the perception of the Brexit negotiations between the UK and the EU. Martin Sartorius showed how March 2019 doesn’t mean the UK wants to spike on the UE, here’s his article:
Lost in Brexit?
Here’s a shortcut to get up to date:
We want to get Europeans closer together and you can help us.
Hit the button below to help our community’s work get the fame it deserves. You can also bring your unique brick to the project’s edifice by writing for Nationall among more than 50 writers across Europe.
