Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 21 March 2018

In Brexit talks, unity has been EU's trump card over Britain

By RAF CASERT came a member of what
PAN PYLAS was then the European
BRUSSELS (AP) — The an- Economic Community in
swer should be a no-brain- 1973. Throughout its mem-
er: Who can show a more bership and until the 2016
unified front, the United Brexit vote, Britain was a
Kingdom or the 27 dispa- less than enthusiastic mem-
rate countries on the other ber, securing opt-outs,
side of the Brexit negotiat- most notably to the euro
ing table? single currency, and resist-
In the topsy-turvy world ing many of the calls for
of Britain's divorce nego- closer integration. Over the
tiations with the European decades, the EU has grown
Union, it is the EU that has from a small grouping in
shown far more unity. western Europe to one that
Twelve months on since the stretches towards the Arc-
government of Prime Minis- tic and Africa and borders
ter Theresa May triggered Russia and Turkey. Its coun-
the two-year Brexit talks, tries are led by a disparate
the sides have finally made mix of left-wing socialists
some progress ahead of an and right-wing nationalists.
EU leaders' summit Thurs- European Union chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, right, reaches out to shake hands with Brit- It has built a legal and po-
ish Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union David Davis prior to a meeting at EU head-
day. It's clear that the EU quarters in Brussels on Monday, March 19, 2018. litical system that ties every-
has, so far, come out on (Virginia Mayo) one together even if there
top, putting paid to any are disagreements.
hopes in Britain of using its By contrast, the divisions on "The EU has set the Brexit from the devastation of And yet, it has managed to
old imperial "divide-and- the British side are numer- agenda and timetable World War II, the original six avoid any public disagree-
rule" tactics. ous and have the poten- and has won at every stage members rallied together ments in the Brexit talks.
"It is all for one, and one tial to wreck May's govern- so far," said Professor Simon around erstwhile enemies "We pool our resources,"
for all," European Commis- ment. One year before its Hix of the London School of France and Germany, Juncker said, "to strengthen
sion President Jean-Claude planned departure, May's Economics. vowing to reach prosperity one another and to give
Juncker told the EU parlia- government has yet to The bloc's secret for "win- through unity and coop- ourselves more serenity
ment last week, with a liter- present a detailed road- ning united" goes back to eration. when dealing with the rest
ary flourish straight from Al- map for departure lest it the inception of the Euro- Britain was much less de- of the world. We see this
exandre Dumas' The Three create more political cha- pean Union over 60 years pendent on that sort of Eu- with Brexit. We see this with
Musketeers. os at home. ago. Barely recovered ropean teamwork and be- trade. q

Germany reassures Ireland over Brexit border impasse

By GEIR MOULSON British negotiators said open the all-but-invisible found." not," he added.
LORNE COOK there had been no break- border between EU mem- He called for "more de- Varadkar said that "nothing
Associated Press through on the Irish border ber state Ireland and North- tailed written proposals" is agreed until everything
BERLIN (AP) — German issue, despite announcing ern Ireland, which is part of from British Prime Minister is agreed" and that he's
Chancellor Angela Merkel progress on the outlines of the U.K., is proving one of Theresa May's government reassured by the depth of
on Tuesday reassured Ire- a transition deal after Brexit the biggest headaches. that can be made legally support from Germany, the
land that it can rely on Ger- day in a little more than a Varadkar stressed that a binding. EU's most populous country.
many in Brexit talks as the year's time. "backstop solution" under If London proposes "some- "Ireland can rely on us,"
European Union and Britain "A solution must be found which Northern Ireland thing that is very close to a Merkel said.
struggle to find a way to for this ... and Germany fully would remain part of the customs union, then I think In Brussels, European Coun-
maintain an open Irish bor- supports the Irish position," EU's tariff-free customs that would solve a lot of the cil President Donald Tusk
der after the U.K. leaves. Merkel said. union while the rest of the problems related to the Irish was upbeat about over all
Merkel met with Irish Prime Britain is due to leave the U.K. leaves must "apply un- border, but if it's something progress on Brexit before
Minister Leo Varadkar in 28-nation EU in a little over less and until a workable al- much less and much weak- chairing a two-day summit
Berlin a day after EU and a year, and how to keep ternative agreed solution is er than that, then it would starting Thursday.q