EU chiefs says door is open on reversal of Brexit
Senior EU officials said on Tuesday the door remained open to a British change of mind on Brexit.
The call was led by European Council President Donald Tusk in a speech to the European parliament.
“If the UK government sticks to its decision to leave, Brexit will become a reality – with all its negative consequences – in March next year. Unless there is a change of heart among our British friends.”
He quoted a 2013 statement by UK Brexit secretary David Davis, who said that “if a democracy cannot change its mind, it ceases to be a democracy”.
“We, here on the continent, haven’t had a change of heart. Our hearts are still open to you,” Tusk said.
However, Tusk did warm the UK that it needed to provide “more clarity” on its future vision post Brexit.
“Once we have that, the leaders will meet and decide on the way the EU sees its future relationship with the UK as a third country.” He added that “the hardest work is still ahead of us and time is limited”.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker reiterated Tusk's earlier remarks.
“President Tusk said our door still remains open and I hope that will be heard clearly in London.”
Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament's added: “What we will never allow as a parliament is that at the end you can have a better position, a better status outside the European Union, than inside the European Union.
“Inside the European Union will always be the best solution for every European country and European state.”