Europe can’t rescue Britain. It’s too busy trying to save itself
▻https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jul/02/europe-cant-rescue-britain-saving-itself-immigration
Par Natalie Nougayrède
Angela Merkel and François Hollande, the leaders of Europe’s two largest and founding nations, cannot afford to give Britain opt-outs on freedom of movement without their own domestic scenarios being upended. #Immigration is a theme that has been manipulated to such levels that any signal granting Britain exemptions would trigger a political unravelling. Remember that France and Germany face key elections next year.
The rise of destructive populism in Europe is the backdrop to the messages that EU leaders have sent out to Britain this week. European partners have made clear there will be no “a la carte” proposal for the UK. Yes, Britain had a unique status in the club, but adding to its opt-outs is not on the table. A renegotiation with Britain has already been attempted, and the resulting agreement secured by David Cameron in February went as far as EU leaders could manage. To hope that more concessions might now be produced is to ignore the prevailing European political realities.
It’s true that no European government wanted Brexit, nor ever wished it would materialise. But there is a difference between not wanting something to happen and being able to prevent it. Freedom of movement is a structural pillar of Europe. Weakening it to any greater extent than was offered to Britain earlier this year (to no effect) would trigger a time-bomb from which the European project would not recover.
European partners are ready to give Britain some time to find a way out of its referendum result if that is possible. But it is foolhardy to think the rest of Europe will save Britain from the quagmire into which it has sunk through its own actions. It simply has too much on its plate; preoccupied with the survival of a 60-year-old project. It will not preserve British membership at any cost.
#populisme #politiques #brexit #ue
