Theresa May’s Pivotal Florence Speech
With the world’s eyes watching her, Theresa May set out the UK government’s view for Brexit. While much of the analysis on her speech has focused on a supposed “softening” of May’s stance on Brexit, I believe that the most important takeaway from the speech is the clarification of the mindset of the UK government going into the next round of negotiations.
In her Florence speech, May explained in (no uncertain terms) that the UK does not see Brexit as some means to an end to spite the EU. Instead, it is an opportunity for each party to move seek their future along different paths. It is no secret that the UK had always maintained a fundamentally different view of the purpose of the EU compared to the Eurozone leaders (i.e. Germany and France). The UK has always seen the EU as a, primarily, economic project. Meanwhile, the Eurozone leaders see the EU as something bigger, along the lines of economic, political, and social supranational actor. While the idea of a “United States of Europe” isn’t as prominent anymore, it certainly hasn’t died out in these circles. As the recent history of the EU has shown, these heterogenous views have lead to tensions and outright infighting within the EU. Therefore, Brexit should be seen as an opportunity for each party to move forward as partners that accept each other’s differences, rather than continue to exist as countries constantly fighting one another (within the EU).
On a side note, it is worrying that many EU leaders (and the Remain-leaning media) are still perpetuating the misconception that the UK wants to spite the EU. The hardened Leavers with this view do not make up the majority of Leave voters, nor do they in any way represent the government. Therefore, it is up to the EU to stop fighting these proxy ideological battles with May in an attempt to “show” how wrong those Leavers are.
May also made a very important clarification about the nature of the future relationship between the EU and the UK. May correctly noted that Brexit cannot be compared to Norway or Canada, as every EU regulation and law is contained in the UK. This means that negotiations are beginning from a fundamentally equal starting point. It is tiring to see the EU and media hung up on these previous examples as if there isn’t any way forward for a groundbreaking agreement. Before the European Economic Community existed, there wasn’t anything like it. Before the Maastricht Treaty was signed, there was nothing like it either. The stubbornness of the EU to create a unique relationship, therefore, points to a determination to stymie the UK. This is, most likely, related to the previously noted misperception that the UK wants to harm the EU.
At the end of the day, the most important takeaway form May’s speech is that there is a fundamental misunderstanding between the perception of the Brexit negotiation between the UK and the EU. The EU, unfortunately, seems to be more interested in virtue signaling and fighting ideological battles with a small minority of Leave voters. The campaign for Brexit is over, and it’s time for the grown ups to put the bad blood away. May has put forward her hand in friendship, and it’s now time for the EU to step up and move forward in a positive manner with Brexit.
