Theresa May WILL NOT be allowed to cherry-pick Brexit deal, EU bigwig thunders
THERESA MAY will not be allowed to cherry-pick her way to a favourable deal with Brussels, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator has declared.
Verhofstadt: Being outside EU can't be more favourable than being inside
Speaking on BBC’s Newsnight on Monday Guy Verhofstadt said the bloc would not accept the UK getting a better deal outside the European Union than it has as a member state.
Taking a clear dig at Mrs May’s warning that no deal was better than a bad deal with Brussels, the europhile insisted the PM would not be allowed to "pick and choose" those benefits of EU membership she might want the UK to retain.
Mr Verhofstadt told Evan Davis: “We need a fair partnership.
"You cannot create a status for countries outside the European Union where it is even more favourable than for the countries that are members.
“No taxpayer in Europe will accept such an outcome.”
Guy Verhofstadt said Theresa May would not be able to cherry-pick a deal
Announcing the Government’s Brexit plan in January, Theresa May issued a stark warning to Eurocrats that any attempt to impose punitive departure terms on the UK would be "a calamitous act of self-harm".
"No deal for Britain is better than a bad deal for Britain," she said signalling her readiness to walk out of talks if the European Union tries to give the UK the short end of the stick.
Mrs May also called for a "bold free trade agreement" between Britain and the EU, in a bid to gain "the maximum freedom" for British companies to trade with their European counterparts.
But she insisted that staying a full member of the single market would not deliver a genuine departure from the EU.
Chief Brexit Negotiator: Brexit is not fit for purpose
No taxpayer in Europe will accept such an outcome
The PM has urged Brussel chiefs to to be good neighbours once Article 50 is triggered – a plea that appears to have fallen on deaf ears.
She said: "It is in no one's interests for there to be a cliff edge for business or a threat to stability as we change our existing relationship to a new partnership with the EU.
"By this I do not mean that we will seek some form of unlimited transitional status in which we find ourselves stuck forever in some kind of permanent political purgatory.
"From that point onwards, we believe that a phased process of implementation, in which both Britain and the EU institutions and member states prepare for the new arrangements that will exist between us, will be in our mutual self-interest."
Verhofstadt: Being outside EU can't be more favourable than being inside
The Europhile also said he expects Britain to pay a £500billion Brexit bill
Taking another swipe at Britain’s decision to abandon the red-tape obsessed bloc, Mr Verhofstadt insisted the UK now has to pay a £500billion(€600bn) Brexit bill before it can leave.
Late last year it was widely reported Eurocrats were planning on slapping the UK with a £50billion (€60billion) exit bill as punishment for voting to abandon Brussels in the June referendum.
The EU defended the demand as it argued Britain had unpaid budget commitments, pension liabilities and loan guarantees to honour.
However, Mr Verhofstadt has now said he expects Britain to foot a bill ten times the figure initially signalled.
Davis asked the former Belgian Prime Minister about the potential financial liabilities linked to Brexit.
Mr Verhofstadt replied: “What I know is the outstanding commitments now and before Britain will leave the European Union will in total be around €600billion (£513billion).
“That’s the reality and you can find in the accounts of the EU.”
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