The Guardian: UK risks losing European commissioner role over Brexit delay

10 April 2019

France is expected to demand the removal of the post of British European commissioner as a price for a long Brexit delay, leaving Britain without a seat at the top table of Brussels decision-making for the first time since 1973.

Senior EU sources say the French president, Emmanuel Macron, is likely to seek to entrench the UK’s reduced status in the EU at the leaders’ Brexit summit on Wednesday evening.

The British government will have to agree to losing its commissioner but it is unlikely the prime minister will put up a fight when she is presented with the terms of an extension.

“There are different legal means not to have a [British] commissioner,” said an EU diplomat, suggesting one way could be the British government declining to nominate anyone. “The question of non-participation could depend also on the British government.” [...]

Full article on The Guardian


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