Tusk says EU will not be intimidated by threats during Brexit negotiations

The president of the European Council said Wednesday that the European Union would not be intimidated by threats over the course of Brexit negotiations.


During a debate on the future of the bloc, Donald Tusk said he hoped the process that was expected to kick off soon regarding the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the EU would be constructive and London and Brussels would be able to arrive at an orderly divorce.

"We will not be intimidated by threats that no Brexit deal is good for UK & bad for EU. No deal bad for everyone, above all for UK," Tusk said earlier in a tweet.

During the European Parliament session reviewing last week's heads of state and government summit in Brussels, Tusk said he hoped the UK and EU would be "close friends in the future."

In another tweet, Tusk, whose position as European Council president was extended last week, said: "I will do everything in my power to make sure that UK, EU are close friends after Brexit and stress that EU's door will always remain open."

Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker also defended the idea of a "multi-speed Europe," which has been opposed by some eastern European nations, including Poland.

A multi-speed EU would have different members integrating at different paces and to different levels depending on individual political situations.
 [EFE/EPA]
15/3/17