Other European Union countries are becoming “really exhausted” by Brexit as the UK’s divorce from the bloc gets “more foggy”.

Politicians across the continent have expressed their exasperation following the latest turbulence at Westminster, where Prime Minister Theresa May has been blocked from holding a third vote on her Brexit deal unless it is “substantially” different.

:: Add to Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, speaking in Berlin on Tuesday, claimed the EU would “watch very attentively” to how the UK government reacts to what it has branded a “major constitutional crisis”.

But, ahead of an upcoming summit of EU leaders this week, Ms Merkel was unable to offer any thoughts on how the bloc might respond.

She said: “I cannot evaluate what it will be on Thursday – much too much is in flux.”

The new obstacle to Mrs May getting approval from MPs for her withdrawal agreement was erected by House of Commons Speaker John Bercow.

He cited a centuries-old convention as he warned the government against bringing back the twice-defeated Brexit deal for another vote if it remains unchanged.

Ms Merkel added: “I’ll concede that I wasn’t actively aware of the British parliament’s rules of procedure from the 17th century, so I took note of this with interest yesterday.”

Her European affairs minister Michael Roth, who met with his EU counterparts in Brussels ahead of Thursday’s gathering of the bloc’s heads of government, sent a sterner warning to UK MPs.

“Dear friends in London, please deliver. The clock is ticking,” he said.

Mr Roth called for “clear and precise proposals” from the UK government on breaking the Brexit deadlock, adding: “We are really exhausted by these negotiations.”

He warned: “It’s not just a game. It’s an extremely serious situation, not just for the people in the UK but also for the people in the EU.”

France’s European affairs minister Nathalie Loiseau claimed the Commons needed to choose between leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement or backing the prime minister’s deal.

She noted how MPs “have said no to a ‘no deal’ and they have said no to a realistic deal” – adding: “They have to change their mind on one of the two options.”

“If there is no decision, the date of 29 March comes and then it’s a ‘no deal.’

“For the British to decide nothing is to decide on a ‘no deal’.”

In order to prevent a no-deal Brexit, MPs have supported the prime minister asking the EU for an extension to the Article 50 negotiating period.

But, Ms Loiseau reiterated the EU’s stance that there must be an “objective” behind any request for a delay to Brexit.

She said: “Grant an extension – what for? Time is not a solution, it’s a method.

“If there is an objective and a strategy, it has to come from London.”

The French politician added: “You have to have a sense of humour when you deal with Brexit right now.”

Romania’s European affairs minister, George Ciamba, whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency, also called for “more clarity” from the UK over Brexit.

“The biggest issue right now is that it’s getting more foggy,” he said.

Source: Read Full Article