UK/EU Relations after Brexit: Why Breaking Up Is Hard to Do
Despite the posturing, both the United Kingdom and the European Union are trying to reach a deal. However, London’s cliffedge strategy and Brussels’ control of the agenda and progress of the negotiations could result in an “any deal is better than no deal”.
A last-minute “Australian” or “Canadian”-style trade deal would have severe economic repercussions for the United Kingdom, in the context of a Brexit that threatens the political system and even the United Kingdom’s unity.
Florence Faucher is professor at the Centre d’études européennes et de politique comparée (CEE,Sciences-Po Paris).
Colin Hay is Director of SPERI and Professor of Political Analysis.
Article published in Politique étrangère, Vol. 85, No. 4, Winter 2020-2021.