Brexit - both EU and UK are discussing how to proceed

How to proceed in the Brexit preparations is not easy to determine for the UK nor for the EU.

When Chancellor Merkel met with the Visegrad group in Poland on Friday, she told the press that Brexit should give impetus to reform, calling it a “turning point in the history of European integration”. But there is so far no consensus on what should be the future direction for the Union.  France, Italy and Germany argued for more Europe after the Ventotene meeting . The leaders from Poland, Hungary, Czeck Republic and Slovakia (Visegrad group) agreed on Friday that there is a need to strengthen security (more Europe), but otherwise they spoke for less Europe and eurosceptisism.

The EU leaders are also unsure on what kind of strategy they should follow in the forthcoming Brexit negotiations with the UK. German economy minister Sigmar Gabriel said on Sunday that UK must pay for Brexit or EU is "in deep trouble". Britain must not be allowed to “keep the nice things” that come with EU membership without taking responsibility for the fallout from Brexit. Gabriel warned if the issue was badly handled and other member countries followed Britain’s lead, Europe would go “down the drain”.

In UK it is not clarified what kind of Brexit - i e the future relationship between UK and the EU - they want (WHO solution, bilateral trade agreement or EEA Agreement). It is important for UK to control the immigration, and the strategy must give the country enough freedom on this issue. PM Theresa May has called a cabinet meeting to discuss the Brexit strategy on Wednesday. Media have reported that there is a government split over whether or not the UK government should try to retain its membership of the single market. 

There is little reason to be surprised that both the EU and the UK are struggling with implementation of Brexit. That a major member country choose to leave the Union is something new and untested.  To find solutions which are satisfactory for both parties will therefore require a Brexit battle with good contacts and cooperation across the frontline.