Guy Verhofstadt, chief negotiator on behalf of the European Parliament for the Brexit, hopes and expects a breakthrough in the Brexitsaga this week. “I remain optimistic that there will be an agreement next Monday on a customs union,” says Verhofstadt today.
The British House of Commons rejected the divorce agreement with the European Union for the third time last Friday. The deadlock around the Brexit seems complete. British Prime Minister Theresa May and her government are under high voltage.
The deadline of 12 April is coming closer, and the United Kingdom and the EU are facing (again) a crucial week. On Monday it is the turn of the British House of Commons. In the coming days, voting will be about possible scenarios for the Brexit.
Despite the storm clouds above the file, Guy Verhofstadt remains optimistic about a possible breakthrough. He hopes in particular for a breakthrough around the scenario of a customs union.
“That would solve a lot of problems. In this way we avoid a hard Brexit and also solve the problem of the Irish border, “says Verhofstadt.
Verhofstadt realises that the hard Brexit people oppose such a customs union. “But hopefully we get a cross-party consensus for the first time,” it sounds. “All too often, party interests are placed above the interests of the nation.
Labor only thinks of Labor, and the Conservatives of the Conservatives. ”Verhofstadt calls that party-political struggle“ sad ”. “Brexit has become the bullet in a weapon, an instrument to hurt each other.”
According to Verhofstadt, if an agreement could be found on the customs union, it could be arranged correctly in time to handle the Brexit within the agreed deadlines.