EU Said to Eye ‘Nuclear Option’ to Force May’s Hand on Exit

[Purveyor]

Source: Bloomberg

Some in Europe want Theresa May to know their patience has its limits.
As the new British prime minister pushes back talks on leaving the European Union, officials on the continent have begun to float what they call “the nuclear option” to bring her to table: suspending Britain’s voting rights in EU institutions.

Several member states have started looking at whether that would be feasible by invoking Article 7 of the Lisbon Treaty, according to two European officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. That would mean arguing that the U.K. is no longer cooperating in good faith with the bloc in order to pressure May into ending the post-referendum limbo.

The EU’s harshest sanctioning procedure has never been deployed before and three other officials in Brussels said it was too heavy-handed to even be considered.

While May took office on Wednesday promising that “Brexit means Brexit,” her government is already sending out mixed signals on how long that might take. Trade Secretary Liam Fox is working on the basis that the two-year negotiating period could begin around the end of the year, but May on Friday said she won’t start the process of leaving the EU until she’s got Scotland’s backing. With Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon adamant that her country won’t be leaving at all, that pledge opens up the prospect of extensive delays.


Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-07-18/eu-said-to-study-nuclear-option-to-force-may-s-hand-over-brexit

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Petulant Bedfellows

All I can think of is how much the British did for the continent
during World War II. The younger generations never understand.

[Cal33]

2. I think the British did it for themselves -- they had to. There was no other option.

[cstanleytech]

3. Still I can see the EUs point as the British government needs to decide if its going

to follow through on what a small majority of its people voted on or if its going to decline to follow their advice because the longer they take to decide the more instability they create.

[TubbersUK]

4. Don't forget about the critical contribution & sacrifice of the Commonwealth countries

In my experience, it's some of the older generation who seem to have forgotten about that in recent months.

[Angel Martin]

6. It started a long time ago

Canada's "thank you" from France came in 1967 when deGaulle went to Montreal and made a speech supporting Quebec separation.

[WhiteTara]

5. Once she got in office she quite realized

that they would have a sh*t creek to paddle for a very long ride.

[goldent]

7. Ain't going to happen

> two European officials who spoke on condition of anonymity

There is nothing much to report about Brexit, so reporters are desperate for a story and will publish any cockamany rumor. What will happen is a series of long boring negotiations. Trading will the EU will go on through the whole process.