Open Letter to Donald Tusk

Dear Mr. President of the European Council,

Today, I feel compelled to write you following the latest developments about Brexit.

For the past few years, I believe you have rightfully supported the interests of European citizens by adopting a strong stance relative to Brexit. The work and effort put in by the EU have been considerable, and have been matched only by the costs incurred and the energy drained, sadly to no avail and despite our own will.

The whole world has been witness and is now persuaded that the failure of a no deal is not to be blamed on the EU but on the UK's dramatic unpreparedness and unwillingness to compromise. In the end, it has become clear that our neighbors across the Channel do not know what they want, and that their preferred course of action is to block any decision-making process and play the clock (in fact, such has been the case ever since they joined the EU, but this is another debate).

For these very reasons, I am quite puzzled that you suddenly seem to give in and wish to play the game their way. Putting a one year postponement to Brexit on the table is a dire proposal. Most European citizens and companies are urgently waiting for the unwinding of the UK's sudden impulse. It has been a very long three years, and another year of drama would be the last straw that brakes the camel's back. The Union's attention cannot be unnecessarily diverted any longer from more pressing matters, such as finally making sure our economy can face those of China, the US, Russia and India.

Therefore, I strenuously urge you not to carry on with this strange idea, and to make sure that Brexit will take place before the next European elections. Allowing the UK to elect MP's to the next European parliament would be a disgrace and would undermine the EU's credibility, not to mention how it would hamper any forward progress.

Alternatively, if there is no other choice than offering a long delay, then it should definitely not last one year. It must last much longer ! The British must then agree that because they have not the slightest idea of what they want, we will not be reopening negotiations with them on the matter before three years' time (in 2022), and that the new target date for their departure will be at the end of the new elected parliament (in 2024). This should hopefully give them time to agree internally somehow on what they want.

Thank you very much for taking this opinion into consideration. Indeed, I believe the above concerns are not only those of myself but also of many fellow European citizens and companies.

With my best regards,

Nicolas REMY

Cc :

• President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker
• Chief Negociator for the EU, Michel Barnier
• President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron