‘Guardian of the EU’ Tusk to give UK a rough ride - even after Brexit
THE European Union (EU) looks set to give Britain a rough ride, even after it has left the bloc, as Donald Tusk claimed he was the “guardian of the EU”.
Donald Tusk brands himself the 'guardian of European unity'
The President of the European Council, speaking at a press conference with Jean-Claude Juncker, the President of the European Commission last night claimed that he would be the “guardian of the EU,” adding that “unity is our most important strength”.
The Polish politician, 60, has consistently held a hardline approach to the ongoing Brexit talks despite recent movement by the British government to make concessions, most notably in Prime Minister Theresa May’s Florence speech.
Donald Tusk has consistently taken a negative view on the Brexit negotiations.
Speaking ahead of the current European Union summit he said that he did not expect any breakthrough in the talks.
He told a news conference ahead of the summit that started yesterday: “I don’t expect any kind of breakthrough tomorrow.”
Despite Mrs May’s keynote Florence speech on Brexit where she outlined a variety of ways to move the talks forward - such as the issue of citizens rights, Mr Tusk still considered this insufficient.
He said: “We need not only really promising visions and proposals, I mean the Florence speech of Theresa May, but very concrete proposals in negotiations.
“I am absolutely sure that it is still possible to achieve this first phase in December, but for this we need more concrete proposals from the British side, to be honest.”
Guardian of the EU
In particular Mr Tusk has flatly refused to start talks over a future trade deal, saying there had not been sufficient progress over the issue of the Brexit payment.
Mr Tusk said recently: We hear from London that the UK government is preparing for a ‘no deal’ scenario. I would like to say very clearly that the EU is not working on such a scenario. We are negotiating in good faith, and we still hope that the so-called ‘sufficient progress’ will be possible by December.
“However, if it turns out that the talks continue at a slow pace, and that ‘sufficient progress’ hasn’t been reached, then – together with our UK friends – we will have to think about where we are heading.”
Mr Tusk also backed the revival of the old Franco-German dominance of the EU after he supported French President Emmanuel Macron’s plans to reform the bloc which will bring the member states closer together.
They include closer military cooperation, tightening of the eurozone, imposing more rigid screening of foreign investments and tougher anti-dumping duties.
Even after talks with Mrs May last month in Downing Street remained critical of the UK’s stance, saying it had a “cake-and-eat-it” approach to Brexit.
He said after their 90-minute meeting: “I feel cautiously optimistic about the constructive and more realistic tone of the prime minister’s speech in Florence and our discussion today.
“This shows that the philosophy of having cake and eating it is finally coming to an end. At least I hope so.”
Although once again he reiterated his stance that there had not been sufficient progress in the talks.
He added: “We will discuss future relations with the UK once there is sufficient progress.
“The sides are working hard at it but if you ask me, and if today member states ask me, I would say there is not sufficient progress yet.”
Mr Tusk has also raised the question of Britain’s future relationship with the EU once it has left the bloc, saying that the UK had to pay its divorce bill for the sake of “future relations”.
Back in May he issued a veiled threat: “We have to respect our obligations and I think it's not about money, it’s about rules and also it’s about a good basis for our future relations.
“This is why we will be very consistent in this problem, but please believe me it’s not because of money but because of rules.”
Mr Tusk has made some concessions in his hardline approach, saying yesterday that he would propose to the 27 EU leaders to start internal preparations for the second phase of negotiations over a future trade deal.