Edging closer to the abyss – JEF Europe regrets yesterday’s vote and now calls on British legislators to avoid no-deal outcome

Brexit has always been an ill-conceived and harmful idea, sold to British citizens in a campaign built on false promises, outright lies and disinformation and fueled on discontent that had little to do with the European Union. Yesterday, the British parliament had the last chance to put citizens’ interests first and opt for an arrangement that while obviously significantly less attractive than membership, would have reduced the human and economic costs of Brexit, enabled continued close cooperation between the European Union and the United Kingdom, which will be required in the face of current global challenges, and maintained stability and peace in Northern Ireland.

“The decision of the British parliament to reject the withdrawal agreement is jeopardising stability and certainty for citizens and businesses. It brings the UK and Europe dangerously close to a “no-deal” scenario which would have dramatic consequences in so far as it impacts the lives of individuals as well as the  political and economic stability in both the UK and in Europe. This decision was ill-advised and obviously motivated by blind ideology and petty party politics rather than by real concern for citizens.  The EU-UK negotiations have demonstrated to what extent voters in the UK have been misled during the referendum, and have proven that Brexit was never going to deliver on the false promises of the Leave campaign”, Christopher Glück, President of JEF Europe, comments. Looking to the future he says: “We can only hope British legislators do not continue failing their citizens but instead step up to do whatever it takes to avoid a no-deal outcome. The best option for the UK remains full membership in the EU. In the interest of all EU citizens, and most of all in the interest of the British citizens, we can only hope that the UK finds its way back”.

More information on JEF Europe

The Young European Federalists (JEF) Europe is a non-partisan youth NGO active with 13.000  members active in more than 35 countries. The organisation strives towards a federal Europe based on the principles of democracy and subsidiarity as well as respect for human rights. While the umbrella organisation JEF Europe was founded in 1972, its sections have been operating continuously since the end of the Second World War, making it the oldest pro-European and only federalist youth organisation.

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JEF Europe Secretariat
info@jef.eu
+32 2 512 00 53