“I am neither sick nor tired. Until my last breath I will work for Europe”. With these words the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker has sent back the increasingly insistent rumors about his possible resignation, due, in addition to the blows suffered by the Union with the Brexit, also for health reasons, during the speech for the extraordinary plenary session of the European Parliament.
For Juncker, Great Britain must "clarify its position as soon as possible". In the meantime, until London formally notifies the decision to leave the EU, "there will be no negotiations with any representative of the British government: no ratification, no negotiations". “I wouldn't want – he commented – the idea that secret negotiations can take place”.
Merkel speaks in Berlin
Concepts echoed by Angela Merkel during her speech at Bundestag on Brexit, the day after the three-way summit with Hollande and Renzi: "We note that Britain has not yet formally requested to leave, but Britain acknowledges that no informal talks will be able to leave before."
The framework for the exit, according to the chancellor, has already been drawn in Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon. “Germany and the EU will lead the negotiations for the exit of Great Britain on the basis of their own interests. It means that negotiations with a third State cannot question the achievements of European unity for its 27 members”.
For Merkel, "Great Britain cannot expect to no longer have obligations but to maintain the privileges" of a link with the EU. The chancellor also does not want London to have a rotating presidency in the second half of 2017.
European Parliament
An extraordinary session is still underway in the European Parliament as a prelude to the work of the first European Council post-Brexit (Tuesday afternoon at 28 Peasi and Wednesday morning at 27), presumably the last with the leaders for David Cameron, the resigning British premier. Mario Draghi will also participate in the Council.
A fiery session, which saw the interventions of many leaders of Eurosceptic movements, including Marine Le Pen, who launched a harsh attack on the Union, stating that the Brexit referendum was "a lesson in freedom and a slap in the face for Europe".
Spotlight focused above all on Nigel Farage, leader of Upik and face, together with the former mayor of London Boris Johnson, of the Brexit front. During his speech Farage, who was booed and interrupted several times, announced that he will not resign from his position as MEP "until the job is done". "Until the new British agreement is reached, of course I have to stay here". Farage was harshly addressed by Jean Claude Juncker: "Actually, I must say I am surprised to see you here, weren't you for Brexit?". The British MP had in fact announced, before the referendum, that this would be his last presence in the EU Parliament.
Renzi has arrived in Brussels
The Belgian capital, in view of the EU summit, is the venue for a large number of bilateral meetings. Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, according to whom we need to "open a new season of investments and not just financial discussions", met with the President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz and is currently meeting with the President of the EU Council, Donald Tusk. Later, before the EU Council, Renzi will meet the president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Junker.
