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Tempers fray as EU 'wargames' tackle prospect of 'Brexit'

26 January 2016, 20:23 CET
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(LONDON) - With Britain's European Union membership on the line, feelings were running high in simulated negotiations between London and European leaders held on Monday.

The so-called "EU wargames", organised in London by think-tank Open Europe, drew together heavyweight political figures to test two key battlegrounds; Britain's negotiations to secure reform ahead of the in-out referendum, and the fallout of a "Brexit", Britain's departure from the union.

Around the round table -- symbolically decorated with a Britain-centred map of Europe -- 10 politicians including former prime ministers Enrico Letta and John Bruton, representing Italy and Ireland respectively, battle it out, supervised by a moderator trained in wargames.

"That's completely impossible, It's clear discrimination!", Karel de Gucht, former European commissioner, bellowed at British representatives over demands for a tightening on welfare payments to EU migrants, a controversial issue that is proving a sticking point in the actual renegotiations.

Each session began with a statement by the British negotiator -- former minister Malcolm Rifkind opening proceedings and former finance minister Norman Lamont kicking off discussions on Brexit.

"It's a mistake to think that the referendum is only an answer to internal party politics," warned Rifkind. "The UK as a whole is deeply divided."

- Europe 'could collapse' -

Discussions quickly focused on the four reforms demanded by London.

These comprise the equal treatment of non-eurozone members, a focus on competitiveness, the restoration of national sovereignty and efforts to curb immigration.

Representatives appeared to be in agreement over competitiveness, but tensions soon rose when it came to the issue of changing voting rules to give more power to non-eurozone members and giving veto powers to national parliaments.

However, Britain's attempts to reduce immigration proved to be the most combustible issue, leading to accusations of discrimination.

"Freedom of movement of people is not negotiable," said Leszek Balcerowicz, the Polish representative famed for implementing his country's economic transformation programme of the 1990s.

"It's really dangerous to encourage xenophobia, Europe could collapse because of this," warned French representative Noelle Lenoir, a former minister for European affairs.

"We think Brexit would be a disaster but we won't make a compromise at any price," she added.

- 'Banal trade agreement' -

If tensions were simmering in the first session, they soon boiled over when talk turned to "Brexit".

Some said they "respected" Britain's democratic decision, but all expressed "deep disappointment" with Ireland calling it a "disaster".

"We were married and now we are divorced," said Swedish representative Ewa Bjorling.

Her Polish counterpart had harsher words, warning that he would never agree to a separation deal offering better conditions than those of the EU in case other members were tempted to also go alone.

Others accused Britain, which would still likely want to trade freely with the EU, of "cherry-picking" only the parts of the union from which it profited.

De Gucht dismissed British ambitions to keep London as the continent's financial capital as "an illusion", asking "how can you hope that the EU will accept its financial centre is outside the Union?"

"If you're out you'll get a banal trade agreement but nothing else," warned Lenoir.

"It will be a real mess," added Spanish representative Ana Palacio.

"You're not going to embark on Noah's Ark and sail alone around the globalised world, we are in uncharted waters," she added.


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