Europe to push for quickie British divorce as Kerry flies in
BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP) – European leaders embark this week on a frantic drive to push Britain into a quick divorce, with top US diplomat John Kerry rushing to join discussions as the “Brexit” crisis goes global.
Germany’s powerful Chancellor Angela Merkel will host the leaders of France, Italy and the European Union in Berlin on Monday amid fears Britain’s vote to leave will create a domino effect in eurosceptic member states.
In what promises to be one of the bitterest summits in the EU’s history, British Prime Minister David Cameron will then face huge pressure in Brussels on Tuesday to immediately trigger the two-year exit process.
But Cameron, who has said he will resign by October and leave the negotiations to his successor, is to be left out in the cold on the second day of the summit on Wednesday when the other 27 EU leaders meet without him.
With a dismayed Washington fearing key ally Britain’s decision to leave the EU will harm Western unity, Kerry flies in to Brussels and London on Monday.
“An EU united and strong is our preference for a partner to be able to work on the important issues that face us today,” Kerry said after talks in Rome with Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni.
“Brexit and the changes that are now being thought through have to be thought through in the context of the interests and values that bind us together with the EU.”