London says to Brussels: don't leave me

(B2) The British-European relationship today resembles a relationship of a spoiled child, darling of the family, who slams the door of the family bosom, but wants to keep the car keys, access to the fridge, and to be able to continue to be able to have a say in all decisions.

One goal: participate in everything

It's an air of 'Don't leave me' in reverse that the British replay for us, who seem to discover all of a sudden that in the word Brexit, there is exit. The latest documents produced by London prove it, particularly in terms of security policy (internal and external). They can be summed up in a single principle: the British want to participate in all foreign, defense and security policies, including those on which they spit their anger before.

The European Union a wonderful project

The role of the EU in international organizations, London wants to defend it. The European Defense Agency, these are interesting initiatives that should be supported. European defence, a project in which we must participate, etc. As for Galileo, it is an irreplaceable tool. You really have to pinch yourself so as not to burst out laughing when you read this type of document which is somehow imbued with a certain irreverence, with a democratic principle, but also with a certain arrogance, even a certain contempt for Europeans.

Such great generosity

Under the guise of shared security, common interests and values ​​(which are very real), London tries to make Europeans believe that the British are there for the good of all, generously offering security experience, knowledge and personnel. London even offers to second British personnel to most European foreign and security policy structures. An act so generous in appearance, the reality behind it must be looked at closely.

Foot in the door

The real goal is much less laudable. These personnel will not only have the role of bringing the best of the Kingdom, but above all of informing London, in real time, of all possible decision projects to influence them, undermine them from within, or even block them. Under the pretext of cooperation, the British actually want to keep their foot in the door at all decision-making levels of European foreign policy (at ministerial and diplomatic level). Because the British objective remains the same through the years: to delay, block, limit European autonomy. This is unacceptable, dangerous, and ultimately very cowardly. Theresa May's government sows the illusion that there would be the possibility of a hard Brexit without any changes or costs for the British.

(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)