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Brexit: More Europe, or Less?

Jamie Dettmer

   Brexit Day, with its mixed emotions, exposed how wide the rift with the
   European Union remains and how difficult it will be to bridge the gap
   now that Britain has left the trading bloc.

   Much of the media focus has been on the likely commercial and political
   repercussions for Britain. The economic shock could be severe,
   depending on how quickly Britain can strike free trade deals with the
   United States and China.

   But the now 27-member EU will also be wounded.

   With Britain gone, EU federalists will have less restraining them in
   their push for a deeper political union among the remaining member
   states. That, in turn, could reignite euroskepticism and trigger
   another populist backlash, especially in central European states, which
   are the most skeptical of federalism and the most determined to
   preserve nation-state rights, analysts say.

   On the economic front, much rests with how trade negotiations unfold in
   the next few months between British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and
   Brussels.

   "The problem is objectively that there will be some losses and damages,
   no doubt, on both sides," said Donald Tusk, former European Council
   president.

   Speaking to the BBC Sunday, Tusk said there was no wish to punish
   Britain for exiting, and he does not expect either side will want to
   intentionally harm the other.

   "This is a process of only damage control," he said.

   But few doubt there will be damage. There seems to be no love lost
   between London and Brussels. The rhetorical exchanges across the
   English Channel in recent days have been toxic in content and tone.

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