London's plans for Brexit
The British government has presented its Brexit plan. It foresees a free trade zone for goods and agricultural products with the EU while special rules would apply for services, and London would be free to restrict migration from the EU. Is this a good compromise or is the UK cherry-picking?
The best possible compromise
The document presented by May is the best Brexit proposal yet, The Times stresses:
“The white paper is the least bad option currently proposed and is consistent with the vote for Brexit while minimizing disruption to the economy and business. ... It attempts to navigate a course between 'no deal' and 'no Brexit'. These alternative options would be disastrous for the economy and disastrous for popular trust in Britain's political culture. ... Overruling the vote of a referendum, on the grounds that the task is too technically difficult and the options incompatible, would undermine the essence of the constitutional settlement between parliament and people.”
The EU must not accept this deal
What the British are suggesting is simply unacceptable for the EU, Handelsblatt protests:
“Britain is cherry-picking. A free trade zone with the EU is meant to guarantee that British industrial locations remain intact. Substantially eased access to EU markets for financial services suits the interests of London City. But the rest of the single market pie has gone sour, as far as the British are concerned. ... The government in London is claiming all the rights but refuses to fulfil the corresponding obligations. The EU doesn't grant such privileges to its member states, let alone non-member states. The entire EU legislation would lose its credibility if exceptions which no other country receives were made for Britain. The EU's very survival instinct forbids it from accepting such a proposal.”