Brexit news: EU internal conflict arises as Tusk shut down Verhofstadt's Brexit proposal | UK | News | Express.co.uk
Author: Aurora Bosotti
Description: EUROPEAN Council boss Donald Tusk shut down European Parliament Brexit coordinator Guy Verhofstadt after he set out plans for an 'association agreement' to keep Britain closer to the bloc as the EU's united front crumbles.
Date: 2018-03-14T18:01:00+00:00

# EU civil war as EU boss Tusk SHUTS DOWN Verhofstadt's Brexit proposal

### EUROPEAN Council boss Donald Tusk shut down European Parliament Brexit coordinator Guy Verhofstadt after he set out plans for an "association agreement" to keep Britain closer to the bloc as the EU's united front crumbles.

By Aurora Bosotti
PUBLISHED: 18:01, Wed, Mar 14, 2018 | UPDATED: 18:31, Wed, Mar 14, 2018

Arch-federalist Guy Verhofstadt unveiled splits in the European Union with his proposals for a much softer Brexit arrangement between Brussels and London.

The European Parliament's Brexit coordinator suggested the EU could seek to strike an "association agreement" with Britain to maintain closer ties after Brexit – but he was solemnly shut down by European Council boss Donald Tusk.

Mr Tusk said: "Unfortunately what we are working on is kind of a dissociation agreement, not an association agreement.

"Brexit, the decision of the British referendum, was about dissociation, not association."

EBS•YOUTUBE

Brexit news: Tusk shut down Verhofstadt's proposals for an "associated" deal with Britain

Mr Verhofstadt wants the ‘association agreement’ to include access to European bodies like the European Medicines Agency after Brexit.

The plans for closer ties paves the way for a closer, more flexible and dynamic relationship between Britain and the EU.

But Mr Tusk dismissed his proposals, promising to explain to his colleague the purpose of Brexit.

Talking to the press, Mr Tusk said: "Dissociation is the first and most natural consequence of Brexit, this is the essence of Brexit.

> Brexit, the decision of the British referendum, was about dissociation, not association

> Donald Tusk

"I will try to explain this also to my friend Guy Verhofstadt."

Mr Verhofstadt’s spokesman Bram Delen however played down talk of splits in Europe’s Brexit stance.

He said: “It’s not a matter of good cop/bad cop.

“The European Parliament wanted to find a way forward between the red lines of the UK government on the one hand and on the other hand the principles of our Union.

“We want an association agreement with four pillars and including mutual rights and obligations.”

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