Project Syndicate: Brexit Strategy for a Weak UK Government

By calling for a snap election, Prime Minister Theresa May weakened rather than strengthened her hand in approaching negotiations with the European Union over Brexit. Negotiators have less than two years to reach a deal or request an extension. So far, Britain is making three elementary negotiating mistakes, explains Ngaire Woods for Project Syndicate. The country’s leaders have framed the negotiations as a battle, rather than an opportunity where both sides could find value. The British focus more on their own interests rather than trying to understand, appreciate and support the interests of EU negotiators. Finally, the British side raised false expectations about the ease of Brexit while underestimating EU regulations and connections that British citizens have come to take for granted. Truthfulness is paramount, and Woods points out that May’s suggestion that “no deal is better than a bad deal” is false. Instead, Woods urges collaboration and joint problem-solving among the countries that share values and geographic proximity: “Fairness, openness, and transparency are vital to enable both sides to appraise the prospective gains accurately and efficiently, not to mention to allow the private sector and other parties to contribute innovative solutions.” – YaleGlobal

Project Syndicate: Brexit Strategy for a Weak UK Government

Britain displays poor negotiating skills – treating Brexit like a battle, overlooking the other side’s interests while raising unrealistic expectations
Ngaire Woods
Monday, June 12, 2017
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