Britain cannot remain in the lucrative single market unless it continues to accept free movement of people, warns man taking over EU presidency
Theresa May’s plan to trigger Brexit in March could also be delayed says Joseph Muscat the prime minister of Malta
BRITAIN cannot stay in the EU’s lucrative single market unless it continues to accept the free movement of people, according to the man due to take over the EU presidency.
Joseph Muscat said EU leaders were not bluffing when it came to the issue, which could leave Theresa May with a choice between crippling trade tariffs, or not being able to control EU migration.
The prime minister of Malta, whose country assumes the EU's presidency in January, told the BBC: "This is really and truly our position and I don't see it changing.”
Mr Muscat warned that a range of other issues would have to be settled once Mrs May triggers Article 50 - marking the start of the formal withdrawal process - before there could be agreement on a new trade relationship.
They included the bill the UK would have to pay before leaving, establishing what will happen to the border with Ireland and working out interim arrangements on issues like security.
Asked about a suggestion that Britain could remain in single market and place limits on the freedom of movement of EU citizens, Mr Muscat said: "It's just not happening".
"All of us have been pretty clear in our approach that we want a fair deal for the UK but that kind of fair deal can't translate itself into a superior deal," he said.
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"I know that there is absolutely no bluffing from the European side, at least in the council meetings I have attended, saying 'we will start in this position and then we will soften up'. No, this is really and truly our position."
He acknowledged the talks could get "complicated" and that both sides stood to lose as a result of the UK vote to leave.
"We are going to lose something but there will not be a situation when the UK has a better deal than it has today," he said.