European political reaction to Florence Speech

Much taken, little given

Intro paras commentary on the speech itself- then the reaction.....

"Within a community, you can also lose," said the German Socialist Party euro-politician, Jo Leinen. "But May clearly desires that Britain always wins." May spoke "like Donald Trump:" National egoism goes ahead of common action ". A partnership, as May had outlined, would be the continuation of cherry picking. Leinen said he does not see how the EU can enter the second phase of the negotiations on future relations with Great Britain.

St Maria Novella, the Dominican Church where the speech was held.

"No progress on this basis"

For this, "sufficient progress" is needed in the issues of the exit bill, the Irish border and the rights of the citizen, as it says in the guidelines which the EU and the UK have agreed upon. Originally, phase two should begin in October.

However, Elmar Brok (CDU), a member of the Brexit steering group in the European Parliament, also made criticism that May had not made concrete proposals on any of the three topics. "On this basis, we cannot establish sufficient progress." A resolution expected to be adopted by the European Parliament on 3 October, one day before May's next Brexit speech at the British Conservative Convention, "will turn out the same today," Brok said

Green party politician Reinhard Bütikofer also said May was "missing the point”. She had only been clear in her demand for the transitional phase: "She needs more time in the face of the chaos that her government has already created with Brexit."

The decision as to whether the progress is sufficient is up to the EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier. He spoke diplomatically to May's speech and praised their "constructive spirit". However, he also made it clear that they did not negotiate speeches, but on the basis of position papers. May's words must now be "translated into precise negotiating positions".

In summary, Theresa May's speech by Brexit disappointed the EU. The Prime Minister did not make any concrete proposals on the disputed issues, which could speed up the stagnation. Critics instead accuse her of still trying to pick out the benefits without having to accept commitments.

Source