By Ben Kerrigan
The EU is preparing to present Britain with a skeleton, Canada-style trade deal by the early summer, unless the UK is able to clarify its demands, EU senior officials have said.
It must also remain in “Brexit La-La land”, according to senior European officials.
The plan, being drawn out by Brexit negotiators underscores the concern in Brussels, Berlin, and Paris over Theresa May’s approach to future relations. They are expressing skepticism that the UK prime minister will cover all grounds efficiently during the next rounds of talks in pursuit of a favorable UK trade deal.
The limited proposal will provide limited access to services that make up a large part of the UK economy.
EU leaders have called for the economic consequences of exit to be estimated in order to enable that business to adequately prepare. “It must be fairly precise so we all know where we are going,” Michael Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator said.
Reporters from the Financial Times have quoted a senior European government official working on Brexit that a blueprint based on the EU-Canada trade deal will be presented as a last resort by the European Commission in the late spring or early summer.
“If the commission sees that it’s not getting any clarity on this then it is preparing a ‘take it leave it’ proposal,” the official said. “This would be in case everything goes pear-shaped.”
David Davis, the UK’s Brexit secretary has been expressing confidence of a merger with a “Canada plus, plus, plus” deal.
One senior EU diplomat expressed concern the UK side “would still be in Brexit La-La land”, contemplating magical options for the future. They expected the first months of 2018 to involve some “unicorn slaughter” as Britain’s illusions were confronted.
The diplomat added:
“There will come a time, I don’t know when. We will say: here is what we prepared earlier. Now read and sign on the dotted line.”