Out of the EU: Cone but not forgotten
● EU leaders signal they are ready for a tough fight to defend their interests as UK side sets sights on a looser trade deal
The orange traffic cone aloft the Duke of Wellington statue in Glasgow has been replaced with one adorned with the colour and stars of the EU flag as the UK leaves after Brexit. Scotland voted in favour of the UK staying in the EU with 32 council areas backing Remain.
EU leaders spoke of their deep sadness on the day the UK left the bloc – but warned that they will fight hard for their interests in trade talks to come.
The EU Commission President described Brexit day as “very emotional”, but insisted the new relationship will never be as close as it was.
In Brussels, the Union flag was lowered outside the European Parliament, while the European flag was taken down from the building housing the UK mission to the EU.
The UK cabinet marked Brexit day with a special meeting in Sunderland, and ministerial visits across the north of England while Brexit supporters gathered to hear speeches from Nigel Farage and other leading Leave figures, and celebrate the moment of exit at 11pm.
The former European Council President Donald Tusk tweeted yesterday: “My dear British friends. We were, we are, and we will always be a Community. And no Brexit will ever change that.”
But at a press conference in Brussels, his success Charles Michel struck a more hardnosed tone, warning that UK access to EU markets would be more restricted once it has left.
“The more the UK will diverge from the EU standards, the less access to the single market it will have,” he said.
Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said relations with the UK would never be as close once it is outside the EU.
“We want to have the best possible relationship with the United Kingdom but it will never be as good as membership,” she said.
Earlier, Ms von der Leyen told the BBC: “Negotiations will be fair. But, of course, each side will fight for their interests. And it is very clear that there are some fields where we have strong common interests. For example, the fight against climate change.”
She added: “You know it is the story of old friends and new beginnings now.
“Of course, we want to work together as close as possible. The crucial part is the single market. And there, there is a clear trade-off – the closer the UK wants to be to the single market, the more they have to respect the rules of the single market.”
The UK government also signalled that trade talks would result in a more distant relationship with the EU. Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove told the BBC that the UK was “moving further away from the orbit of EU rules and laws”.
Asked if he could guarantee that there would be frictionless trade after Brexit, Mr Gove replied: “No. “We want trade to be as frictionless as possible but the EU is clear, you can only have fully frictionless trade if you accept all of their rules, if you accept all their laws, you are subordinate to their judges, you are subordinate to their political structures.”
Ireland also signalled that it will take a very firm line in post-brexit trade talks, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar pledging that fishing and farming communities in his country will be protected in talks.
Around a third of Ireland’s fish comes from UK waters, while almost three quarters of UK fish is exported to the EU.
Mr Varadkar told Irish broadcaster RTE: “Having control of their own fishing grounds is not going to be much use to them unless they can export to the EU.
“That is why it gets tied up with trade and we are going to take a very firm line on that to make sure that we protect our coastal communities and our fishing industry.”
French president Emmanuel Macron delivered his own address to the nation in France, describing Brexit as an “alarm signal” which should be heard across the EU.
“Having control of their own fishing grounds is not going to be much use to them unless they can export to the EU”
LEO VARADKAR
Irish Taoiseach