Home / Home / Accueil / From the European Union to the European Space: From Brexit to Crisexit? (Abstract GEAB, June 2017)

From the European Union to the European Space: From Brexit to Crisexit? (Abstract GEAB, June 2017)

On June 8, the British elected a new Parliament where a Common’s majority escaped from Prime Minister Theresa May and her Conservative Party. … result of this election for Theresa May is that it allows it to justify a change of negotiation line, moving from a hard-Brexit project to a soft-Brexit, henceforth adapted to the vital goal for the UK to avoid being marginalised in relation to a continent that has not followed their path… 

brexit-crisexit

Figure 1: Euler Diagram showing the relations among different agreements and European multinational organisations. Source Wikipedia

——————————————————————————————————————–

… In order not to lose face, it is not the Brexit decision which must be called into question by these elections, but its process, the modalities, the “tonality”. Brexit must be maintained because it serves both sides of the Channel by creating the conditions of change so needed after ten years of crisis. But it must also be used to:

. Allow the reform of the UK

. Allow the reform of the continent

. Allow the reform of the UK’s relationship with the continent

With the electoral results which have brought supporters for a soft-Brexit, different scenarios are now officially possible1:

  • An exit from the EU single market but not from the European Customs Union, which includes Turkey, Monaco, Andorra and San Marino2, according to Günther Oettinger, European Commissioner, who sees the UK’s remain in the customs Union as an advantage of not being obliged to renegotiate all trade agreements3. The current negotiations between Theresa May’s government and the opposition are about this issue4. Such a solution, as we have already seen, would also be suitable for the DUP, but on the other hand, in the absence of negotiations on subjects like immigration, it would be rejected by the left parties. Moreover, the “hard” wing recovered from UKIP risks to oppose it…
  • The “no deal” scenario is not excluded, given the length of the negotiations, which have not yet begun. If no agreement could be reached by the established deadline (March 2019), the UK by failing to leave will remain in the EU5.
  • A new referendum6 (possibly combined with the previous solution) – the bets are open: Betting against Brexit
  • A formal exit from the EU but not from the EFTA, alongside Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, with continued access to the European Economic Area (EEA: the same, except from Switzerland)7– and, as we have seen a few bulletins before, manitining the famous “financial passport” so dear to the City. This scenario was evoked by Michel Barnier, after a plan A evoking an interim UK trade deal, at least as an intermediate option more profitable for Brussels8.

This last scenario is of particular interest to us. It would in fact serve as an axis of transformation that is particularly relevant to everyone:

  • on the British side: stowage to the mainland maintained but consumed Brexit (saved face); saved financial passport; active participation in the negotiations on “the next Europe”, namely the principles of cooperation within a European Economic Area which will inevitably have to be reconfigured9.
  • on the continental side: reaching the optimal level of redefinition of European integration, making it possible to get out of the EU’s too restrictive framework; integration of the 3-4 countries lacking in the proper functioning of European policies and strategies (just one example, the marginality of Iceland and especially of Norway is a major problem in the development of a Common European Defence); establishment of a major open negotiation on the next stage of continental integration where the EU will not impose its method on others but will rethink its method with the others (negotiation method which will win the support of the populations concerned); a resounding victory of the integration logics against the division logics; an integration of countries on a healthy and voluntary basis.
  • on Iceland, Norway, Lichtenstein sides (and possibly Switzerland): possibility to regularise their status and their participation in a European governance without by-passing their populations, being namely actors in the redefinition process; end of the current situation for these countries included in the European system of governance and legislation against their will.
  • on the citizens’ side: We see the advantages listed above that citizens become central in this axis of upgrading the European integration, which is convincing only by the acceptability it induces for the people; on this basis, citizens will not need much to have a trans-European election promising them the choice of the broad political-societal orientations to be given to the common institutional system (thus reinforced) … as soon as 2019, why not (date of the next European elections).

We talked about the idea that this kind of scenario could be imposed “if everyone plays smart”. In reality, we believe that this axis of transformation will be “systemically” imposed, namely because it serves all interests (citizens, financiers, politicians, technocrats, military, economic …). In the near future, the date of June16, 2016 may be celebrated as the victory of the forces of change. Irony of the destiny…

Abstract GEAB N°116, June 2017

1What is a soft-Brexit ? Source: The Independent, 12/06/2017

2See Wikipedia

3Source: FAZ, 11/06/2017

4Source: RTL.be, 13/07/2017 (already mentioned))

5Source: Bloomberg, 12/06/2017

6Source: CNBC, 12/06/2017

7Source: Sputnik, 15/04/2017

8Sources: Politico, 13/04/2017 and Bloomberg, 12/06/2017

9Read also: Norway or no way? Can Efta fix it for Brexit Britain? Source: The Guardian, 13/06/2017

About Marie Hélène

By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. more information

The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.

Close