{"id":11038,"date":"2018-08-20T14:39:50","date_gmt":"2018-08-20T13:39:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.worldpolicyconference.com\/?p=11038"},"modified":"2018-08-20T14:39:50","modified_gmt":"2018-08-20T13:39:50","slug":"e-u-sees-real-brexit-talks-at-last-and-real-dangers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.worldpolicyconference.com\/fr\/e-u-sees-real-brexit-talks-at-last-and-real-dangers\/","title":{"rendered":"E.U. Sees Real Brexit Talks at Last \u2014 and Real Dangers"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Aug. 15, 2018<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n

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By\u00a0Steven Erlanger, The New York Times<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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BRUSSELS \u2014 From the start of the torturous negotiations over Brexit, as Britain\u2019s exit from the European Union is known, the talks have followed an all too familiar dynamic.<\/p>\n

The Europeans set the agenda; the British push for concessions or special deals, while trying to work out among themselves what they really want. The Europeans say no, sticking to a pretty hard line.<\/p>\n

But now, with 85 percent of a deal completed, and the toughest issues remaining, European officials say they are increasingly worried that Prime Minister Theresa May\u2019s government is so divided and fragile that it could collapse, scuttling a deal and inflicting damage on the Continental economy.<\/p>\n

So the Europeans are now exploring ways to finesse their position, three senior European officials say, to sign a withdrawal agreement by the end of the year so it can be ratified by the end of March, when Brexit occurs regardless.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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That would formally divorce Britain from the bloc after more than 40 years of marriage. But some of the hardest issues would be left for transition talks that will last another 19 months, until the end of 2020.<\/p>\n

All of the officials spoke anonymously, following diplomatic practice, and because they do not have permission to be quoted by name.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Big issues remain to be resolved, with the Irish border chief among them. So the Europeans say they may agree to fuzzy language in the withdrawal agreement\u2019s political declaration \u2014 along the lines of \u201caiming to negotiate the closest possible partnership.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The aim is to reduce internal British political warfare over how to best keep the promise of no hard border between Ireland, which will remain in the European Union, and Northern Ireland, which will not.<\/p>\n

The new British Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has been traveling through northern Europe, lobbying for Britain\u2019s position, warning of a chaotic no deal Brexit, and urging \u201ca change in approach\u201d by Brussels. The British and European Union negotiators will meet again on Thursday and Friday, an unusual mid-vacation session.<\/p>\n

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A big sticking point is how to oversee disputes between Britain and the bloc, since Mrs. May, pushed by fervent Brexiteers, does not want to give the European Court of Justice, the bloc\u2019s highest court, any authority over Britain once it leaves the European Union.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n