Brexit: The final chapter

This week, the European Parliament had its last plenary session with British MEPs, before they step down as a result of Brexit. Le Monde writes about this last session, which turned out to be more emotional than many were probably expecting, according to the article. Two days before the deadline, the European Parliament put the British withdrawal agreement to a final vote, which was unsurprisingly backed by MEPs, as a formal step in the ratification process of the deal. Following the vote, in a show of solidarity and affection for the departing Brits, many MEPs came together in the hemicycle and to sing “Auld Lang Syne”. The article also mentions that, although many of the MEPS attending the plenary session reiterated their disappointment about the outcome of Brexit, they admitted it should also serve as a lesson to us all. It remains to be seen what kind of lesson that will be. 

Brexit should not be seen as an oddity, but as something rooted in the culture and history of Great Britain, writes Il Corriere della Sera. The article describes with dismay the cultural and historical differences between England and the rest of Europe, by pointing out that the British country has always been committed to forging balance in power in the European arena, without never being part of it. England has always cared about preserving its traditions and conventions, including its sacred principle of sovereignty, and keeping its special identity as unique and separated from the European one. From Napoleon to Hitler, the reporter concludes that the national myth has always been about Europe threatening British freedom. For this reason, the article ends on a sour note stating that British membership to the EU has been based on a misunderstanding: the British interest in developing a free trade area which provides economic benefits versus the wish of the European citizens to shape a political union.

The Irish Times runs an article on the key issues that will change after 31 January. First of all, in Brussels, the Permanent Representation of the UK to the EU will become the ‘Mission of the UK to the EU’, while Sir Tim Barrow, current Permanent Representative, will have the title of Ambassador to the EU. Additionally, British officials will lose their automatic access to EU institutions. Aside from that, not much will immediately change. The UK remains in a transition period until the end of 2020 and UK citizens will continue to enjoy the same rights as they did while they were EU citizens. The big difference, however, will be that the UK will no longer be part of the EU’s decision-making process. The next six months are expected to be difficult for British negotiators, the article argues, as they will have to work fast to secure a trade deal with the EU by the end of the transition period. If negotiations fail, border controls, tariffs and disruptions in the trade between Ireland and Europe would become the new reality, the article warns.