EU envoy blasts members: Germany and France have NO IDEA what they want from Brexit
HAPLESS European Union (EU) leaders have no clear plan for Brexit, a City of London envoy in Brussels claims.
Jeremy Browne said member states, including France and Germany, are deeply divided over the union's future relationship with the UK.
He claimed EU leaders would be likely to fight among themselves as tense Brexit negotiations continue in Brussels.
Mr Browne also warned the bloc would be "hurt" if it attempted to punish Britain by offering an unfavourable trade deal.
He said: "There is a tendency in the EU still to see the UK as primarily an internal disciplinary matter rather than an external relationship building issue.
"It is not clear they really have a clear vision of what they want their relationship with the UK to be, even though we will be one of their most important trading partners."
His comments shatter the EU's attempt to present a united front between the remaining 27 member states over its Brexit strategy.
Negotiations have become tense as officials discuss thorny issues including the UK's exit bill, rumoured to be as much as £91 billion (€100bn).
Brexit is not really about the UK in some ways
But speaking to the Financial Times, the former Liberal Democrat minister added: "Brexit is not really about the UK in some ways.
"It has also become a prism through which the 27 see themselves.
"So France, for instance, sees it as an opportunity to reshape the bloc in a manner that suits its interest."
In contrast, Germany is more concerned about persevering the single market after Brexit, Mr Browne said.
He told the Financial Times: "German manufacturers are very concerned about the political integrity of the EU.
"Of course they want to trade with the UK, but if it is a choice between that and the risk of weakening the single market, preserving the latter is more important to them."
The ex-MP said he hopes Brussels and the UK can strike a deal on the basis of "mutual recognition".
Under the proposed arrangement, both sides would accept each other's rules even if they were not identical.
But he warned: "The EU may see this arrangement as insufficiently disruptive.
"If it is too smooth, some in Brussels may argue that it doesn't send a sufficiently tough message about the bad consequences that follow if you leave the EU."
Mr Browne, who has visited every EU country since last year's referendum, warned European leaders against trying to punish Britain.
He said: "This is the area where the imbalance between Britain and the EU is least pronounced.
"If they hurt us they will also hurt themselves."