What comes after the Brexit drama?
Brexit is a certainty - that much is clear after the Tories' victory in the British general election. Now new issues are taking central stage - in Britain and in Europe. For example how the EU should deal with populist campaigns or the independence movements in individual countries and regions.
The real problem is the populism epidemic
Writing in Sega, columnist Adelina Marini sees the dangerous ideology behind Brexit as a greater threat than Brexit itself:
“Brexit is Britain's smallest problem. Far more important is the question of how democracy and the rule of law can be preserved. Basically, Brexit is the index-case patient of a terrible epidemic that is wiping out one democracy after another and goes by various names: populism, anti-liberalism, right-wing extremism, disinformation. It ends in the deliberate and systematic destruction of the democratic legal order with the aim of seizing power. ... This is not just about campaign lies, but about a massive case of fraud. Perhaps the biggest in the 21st century.”
No more excuses for postponing key debates
Now that the Brexit is a certainty, the EU can finally focus on other issues, Jutarnji list writes:
“The British elections have simplified things. If the undecided Labour supporters - who were neither for nor against Brexit - had won, there would still be uncertainty at least about when and how Brexit would take place. ... Now the European Union can finally turn to other important issues, one of which will even prove decisive: there has been no progress worth mentioning in the negotiations on the EU's multi-year budget. The differences between the member states and the key institutions are so great that Brexit and the confirmation of the new EU Commission offered a good opportunity to postpone the issue for a while.”
Independent Scotland belongs in the EU
Die EU should adopt a positive stance regarding the renewed calls for Scottish independence, Die Welt stresses:
“Granted, from Europe's point of view this is no simple matter. Can parts of nations that split off become members of the EU just like that? If the Scots can, then why not the Catalans too? And if the Catalans can, then why not the Bavarians? However, there are good reasons for the European Union to take a benevolent view of Scottish independence efforts. Firstly, for historical reasons: since the days of Queen Mary, the Scots have had more ties to the European continent than the English. Secondly, this hard-working, intelligent, warm-hearted nation would undoubtedly be an asset to Europe.”