The problem for the UK government is that it has always demanded exceptionalism within the EU framework and special "deals". /1 politico.eu/article/eu-lea…
Throughout its membership, the UK has consistently demanded special treatment on account of its size, economic strength (once it had got over being 'the sick man of Europe' and perceived hostility of its citizens to the EU. /2
The EU is the only member state to have opt-outs from key aspects of EU integration: single currency, Schengen, justice and home affairs as well as the 'rebate'. The problem is that all these were placed in a 'battle' narrative of UK vs EU. /3
Even with Cameron's renegotiation - which went much further on the EU side than they would ever have been prepared to give to any other Member State - it has never been portrayed as a reasonable compromise but in terms of win/loss. /4
The UK may not of course be alone in this approach - it is politics after all - but this narrative fatally undermined the argument that European integration is above all a cooperative approach. And that it completely missing from the UK debate. /5
Now that the UK is on the way out, it still depends special treatment. And it is getting it: once again, it is difficult to imagine if (say) Greece decided to leave that the terms would be anything like in the WA. /6
But what I think is different now and a fatal flaw in the PM's approach is that FoM has been placed above else. This is different to 'we aren't really comfortable with ever closer Union' arguments. No - this is about rejecting Europeans as people. /7
The EU, for all its flaws, has always been about getting Europeans to know each other better. The economic side has always been a means to an end. There is a reason why, when pushed to name a successful EU policy, Erasmus gets mentioned: because it encapsulates what the EU is. /8
So, the political declaration can talk all it likes about a future deep partnership, but until the UK government (this one or future ones) understands that Europe is about 'cooperation' and not 'battles' then I am not hopeful about the future. And I am generally an optimist. /END
