Tusk urges Britain to change mind on Brexit

Negotiations continue on a transition period that would help ease Britain out

European Union Council President Donald Tusk yesterday urged Britain to change its mind about leaving the bloc next year, as time to conclude a Brexit agreement runs short and EU leaders await more details on how the country sees their future ties.

Britain is set to leave the EU on March 29, 2019, but the complex negotiations on its costly departure and future EU-UK relations must be concluded by October to leave parliaments time to ratify any agreement.

British Prime Minister Theresa May has even asked for a transition period after Brexit day to give citizens certainty and help ease the country out of Europe without alarming financial markets or hurting businesses.

“If the UK government sticks to its decision to leave, Brexit will become a reality, with all its negative consequences, in March next year unless there is a change of heart among our British friends,” Tusk told EU lawmakers yesterday in Strasbourg, France.

Tusk, who chairs summits of EU leaders and speaks on their behalf, quoted UK Brexit envoy David Davis as saying that “if a democracy cannot change its mind, it ceases to be a democracy”.

“We here on the continent haven’t had a change of heart. Our hearts are still open to you,” Tusk said.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker added: “I hope that will be heard clearly in London.”

Brexit talks have progressed painfully slowly, and while the EU says it’s ready to discuss future ties with London, leaders are still seeking more details about how May’s government sees those links.

“What we need today is more clarity on the UK’s vision,” Tusk said. “The hardest work is still ahead of us and time is limited.”

Manfred Weber, the leader of the European People’s Party group — the biggest in the EU parliament — said: “My message to London is: please don’t complain anymore. Please stop complaining. Please deliver. Give us an outlook about what you want to achieve for the future relationship.”

Negotiations are continuing on a transition period that would help ease Britain out. The EU is insisting on less than two years, until the end of 2020 — when the Union’s current long-term budget period ends.