The president of the European Council, Donald Tusk, intimated on Tuesday that Europeans would still be ready to accept a change of heart by Britain with regard to its decision to withdraw from the European Union (EU). “If the U.K. Government sticks to its decision to leave, Brexit will become a reality – with all its negative consequences – March next year, unless there is a change of hearts among our British friends” Tusk said in a plenary debate of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
“Wasn’t it (U.K. Brexit negotiator) David Davis himself who said, ‘if a democracy cannot change its mind, it ceases to be a democracy?’” he added. “We, here on the continent, haven’t had a change of heart. Our hearts are still open for you.”
The UK and the EU reached an agreement in principle on the modalities of their separation in December. They are due to resume their discussions shortly on a transition phase that would follow the actual withdrawal of the United Kingdom, before beginning negotiations on their subsequent relations.
The Brussels Times
