- Title: EU's Tusk warns "no deal" Brexit would hit Britain hardest
- Date: 15th March 2017
- Summary: STRASBOURG, FRANCE (FILE) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
- Embargoed: 29th March 2017 11:33
- Keywords: EU Britain Brexit deal negotiations European Parliament Tusk May article 50
- Location: STRASBOURG, FRANCE
- City: STRASBOURG, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: European Union,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001682MGQV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: European Council President Donald Tusk on Wednesday (March 15) said Britain would mostly hurt itself if it left the European Union without an agreement.
"However, the claims, increasingly taking the form of threats, that no agreement will be good for the UK and bad for the EU, needs to be addressed. I want to be clear that a 'no deal' scenario would be bad for everyone, but above all for the UK, because it will leave a number of issues unresolved. We will not be intimidated by threats, and I can assure you, they simply will not work. Our goal is to have a smooth divorce, and a good framework for the future. And it is good to know that Prime Minister Theresa May shares this view," Tusk told a plenary session of the European Parliament.
Tusk, who chairs EU leaders' meetings, said careful divorce preparations were underway.
"I would like to stress again that the EU's doors will always remain open for our British friends. When it comes to negotiations, we will have no choice but to start the withdrawal talks once the UK notifies. We are carefully preparing for these negotiations, in close consultation with member states and the European Parliament," he told MEP's.
Tusk also reiterated his concerns over plans to allow some of the remaining 27 EU states to foster closer ties after Brexit, leaving those more reluctant members of the bloc behind. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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