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A8 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 2 april 2019

Brexit options: Stick close to EU? Crash out? Think again?

By JILL LAWLESS an orderly fashion in the
Associated Press next few months.
LONDON (AP) — Britain is ___
running out of time and op- NEW BREXIT REFERENDUM
tions for Brexit. Parliament also narrowly re-
U.K. lawmakers have thrice jected a proposal for a new
rejected the divorce deal referendum on whether to
struck between Prime Min- leave the EU or remain.
ister Theresa May’s govern- The proposal for any Brexit
ment and the European deal to be put to public
Union. Facing an April 12 vote in a “confirmatory ref-
deadline to present the erendum” was defeated
EU with a new Brexit pro- by 12 votes. It was backed
posal or crash out of the by opposition parties, plus
bloc, lawmakers met for some of May’s Conserva-
new votes Monday to try to tives — mainly those who
agree on a plan — and re- want to stay in the bloc.
jected all the options. Her government has ruled
With May clinging to hope out holding another ref-
of persuading Parliament erendum on Britain’s EU
to back her Brexit deal if she membership, saying voters
asks a fourth time, a look at in 2016 made their decision
the most likely options: to leave.
NO DEAL Madeleina Kay, Young European of the Year 2018 dressed in blue holds an EU flag and entertains ___
the public while singing about Brexit outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London,
Most politicians, econo- ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues, Monday BREXIT DELAYED
mists and business groups April 1, 2019. The alternative to a “no-
think leaving the world’s Associated Press deal” departure is to delay
largest trading bloc without Britain another extension. worse than the U.K.’s cur- ule from the government. Brexit for at least several
an agreement would be May says the only way to rent status as an EU mem- None got a majority, but months, and possibly more
disastrous. It would impose guarantee Britain does not ber. the votes revealed a solid than a year, to sort out the
tariffs on trade between leave the EU without a deal Parliament has thrown it block of support for a “soft mess. The EU is frustrated
Britain and the EU, bring is for Parliament to back out three times, although Brexit” that would maintain with the impasse and has
customs checks that could her deal — which lawmak- the latest defeat, by 58 close economic ties be- said it will only grant an-
cause gridlock at ports, ers have already rejected votes, was the narrowest tween Britain and the EU. A other postponement if Brit-
and could spark shortages three times. yet. It was rejected even plan to keep the U.K. in an ain comes up with a whole
of essential goods. ___ after May won over some EU customs union, ensuring new Brexit plan.
Brexiteer lawmakers in MAY’S UNDEAD DEAL pro-Brexit lawmakers by seamless trade in goods, The bloc is reluctant to
May’s Conservative Par- After almost two years of promising to quit if it was was defeated by just three have a departing Britain
ty dismiss this as “Project negotiations, Britain and approved. votes. participate in the May 23-
Fear” and argue for what the EU struck a divorce May is considering one last May has ruled those op- 26 European parliament
they call a “clean Brexit.” deal in November, laying push this week, arguing that tions out, because sticking elections, but that would
They have urged her not to out the terms of the depar- Parliament’s failure to back to EU trade rules would limit have to be done if Brexit
compromise and to ramp ture from the bloc and giv- any other deal means her Britain’s ability to forge new is delayed. Still, EU Council
up preparations to leave ing a rough outline of future agreement is the best op- trade deals around the President Donald Tusk has
the bloc without an agree- relations. tion available. world. urged the bloc to give Brit-
ment on April 12. But it has been roundly re- ___ But tweaking her deal to ain a Brexit extension if it
Parliament has voted re- jected by lawmakers on SOFT BREXIT adopt a customs union plans to change course.
peatedly to rule out a no- both sides of the Brexit di- On Monday, Parliament could gain May valuable A long delay raises the
deal Brexit, but that remains vide. Pro-Brexit lawmak- voted on four alternative votes in Parliament. It also chances of an early Brit-
the default position unless ers think it keeps Britain proposals to May’s reject- would likely be welcomed ish election, which could
a deal is approved, Brexit is too closely tied to EU rules. ed deal after lawmakers by the EU and would allow rearrange Parliament and
canceled or the EU grants Pro-EU legislators argue it is seized control of the sched- Britain to leave the bloc in break the deadlock.q

Greece expected to miss its growth targets

By DEREK GATOPOULOS by 1.9 percent this year. ment, increased uncer-
Associated Press That’s below the European tainty regarding the course
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The Commission’s forecast of of post-program reforms,
Bank of Greece warned 2.2 percent and Greece’s together with restrictions on
Monday that the country is official budget estimate of the financing side, have an
likely to miss its 2019 growth 2.5 percent. adverse effect on invest-
target due to mounting The news was a setback ment,” the central bank re-
international uncertainty for the country’s left-wing port said.
and doubts over the gov- government, which faces Greece remains under su-
ernment’s commitment to a general election this year pervision of bailout lenders
reforms. Central bank gov- and has promised to ease despite ending the rescue
ernor Yannis Stournaras, high rates of poverty after program in August and
Bank of Greece Governor Yannis Stournaras gives a speech at presenting the bank’s an- years of crisis and interna- having twice successfully
the annual meeting of the bank’s shareholders in Athens, on nual report , said the Greek tional bailouts. tapped bond markets this
Monday, April 1, 2019.
Associated Press economy was likely to grow “In the domestic environ- year to raise cash. q