Brexit, Gentiloni: “An exemplary revenge against the UK would be a serious mistake”

Rome – A conciliatory approach, not based on punitive intents but firm on some issues. This will be the orientation of the Italian government, which will be held by the President of the Council of Ministers, Paolo Gentiloni, at the extraordinary European Summit on Brexit to be held next Saturday. “We act inspired by some principles,” said the current PM Palazzo Chigi in a nearly empty hall at the Chamber of Deputies, and “the first of these, that I am very fond of, is that we remain friends and allies of the United Kingdom.”

Then, “if anyone had in mind that the British position should be punished in some way, with an exemplary revenge that could serve as a warning to other Member States” tempted to abandon the EU, “in my opinion they would be making a serious mistake,” said the PM, admitting that “this approach is partially shared by some in the context of the 27.” According to Gentiloni, on the contrary, “the interest in a fair, reasonable deal” must prevail. In his view, “outvoting the pressures” of those who want to leave the EU “shouldn’t be done for teaching a hard lesson to the United Kingdom, but for the internal dynamics of the countries.”

The second point on which “we are firm” and that is “a position shared by 90% of the EU Member States,” explained Gentiloni, concerns “the idea that we need to distinguish a first phase, in which the exit modes are negotiated, and a second in which the framework of new relationships is defined.” However, “there are issues that can hardly remain outstanding,” during the negotiations, and on which it would be possible to “establish limited, fixed-duration agreements” because, if on the one hand, the treaties indicate precisely the timing of this divorce, on the other, no one knows how long the negotiations for an agreement on future relationships could last. Gentiloni, talking about the future relationship to be established, said he thinks that “one thing is however clear: the new relationship cannot be a sort of ‘à la carte’ Single Market, with the UK choosing the obligations and privileges to keep and those to reject.

A further “definitely crucial” aspect of the negotiation is the unity of the EU position. This united front is fundamental “for both the 27 and the UK,” recalls Gentiloni, recalling that he has “repeatedly said it to the British Prime Minister” Theresa May. Imagining to be able to divide the 27, bringing them to pursue their interests in scattered order, “might seem like an advantage” for London, recognizes the head of the Italian executive. However, such an approach may prove to be “a tombstone laid on the possibility of reaching an agreement,” since the deal should then be approved by a qualified majority of Member States.

Rome – A conciliatory approach, not based on punitive intents but firm on some issues. This will be the orientation of the Italian government, which will be held by the President of the Council of Ministers, Paolo Gentiloni, at the extraordinary European Summit on Brexit to be held next Saturday. “We act inspired by some principles,” said the current PM Palazzo Chigi in a nearly empty hall at the Chamber of Deputies, and “the first of these, that I am very fond of, is that we remain friends and allies of the United Kingdom.”

Then, “if anyone had in mind that the British position should be punished in some way, with an exemplary revenge that could serve as a warning to other Member States” tempted to abandon the EU, “in my opinion they would be making a serious mistake,” said the PM, admitting that “this approach is partially shared by some in the context of the 27.” According to Gentiloni, on the contrary, “the interest in a fair, reasonable deal” must prevail. In his view, “outvoting the pressures” of those who want to leave the EU “shouldn’t be done for teaching a hard lesson to the United Kingdom, but for the internal dynamics of the countries.”

The second point on which “we are firm” and that is “a position shared by 90% of the EU Member States,” explained Gentiloni, concerns “the idea that we need to distinguish a first phase, in which the exit modes are negotiated, and a second in which the framework of new relationships is defined.” However, “there are issues that can hardly remain outstanding,” during the negotiations, and on which it would be possible to “establish limited, fixed-duration agreements” because, if on the one hand, the treaties indicate precisely the timing of this divorce, on the other, no one knows how long the negotiations for an agreement on future relationships could last. Gentiloni, talking about the future relationship to be established, said he thinks that “one thing is however clear: the new relationship cannot be a sort of ‘à la carte’ Single Market, with the UK choosing the obligations and privileges to keep and those to reject.

A further “definitely crucial” aspect of the negotiation is the unity of the EU position. This united front is fundamental “for both the 27 and the UK,” recalls Gentiloni, recalling that he has “repeatedly said it to the British Prime Minister” Theresa May. Imagining to be able to divide the 27, bringing them to pursue their interests in scattered order, “might seem like an advantage” for London, recognizes the head of the Italian executive. However, such an approach may prove to be “a tombstone laid on the possibility of reaching an agreement,” since the deal should then be approved by a qualified majority of Member States.