A senior Italian official in Florence briefed on London’s plans said: “We were told that May chose Florence because it is the historical heart of Europe and which existed without the need for the European Union. It used to be a European capital centuries before the EU was created, it’s a sort of Europe without the EU.” [...]
The choice of a continental location means this is a speech directed primarily at the EU27 and Brussels — rather than a domestic audience. And it is what the prime minister has to say — not where she is saying it — which is really important. [...]
Could she break the deadlock with a “big, generous offer” to pay, in full, Britain’s commitments to the seven-year EU budget?
Such an offer could only be made with strings attached, but it could nevertheless clear a significant blockage from the road to Brexit.May could demand the status quo on trade until the end of the budget period in late 2020 in return for the status quo on money.
Without a clear offer, the speech will only annoy the EU27 more than they already are (no mean feat).
No comments:
Post a Comment