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> Brexit should have been a near no-op. But it was a huge pain. How was it ever going to be a "near no-op"? Putting everything else aside, Northern Ireland was
by skissane 2y ago
> Brexit should have been a near no-op. But it was a huge pain.
How was it ever going to be a "near no-op"? Putting everything else aside, Northern Ireland was always going to be huge sticking points. Ireland would make sure it was.
Besides, it was in the EU's self-interest to maximise the pain for the UK, in order to discourage other member states from going the same way - and the EU succeeded. Marine Le Pen no longer talks about "Frexit", instead she proposes reforming the EU from within.
- wkat4242 2y agoThe UK were just being difficult and asking for things they knew they couldn't have. Like to join the single market for services but not for products. That breaks one of the most fundamental values of the EU. This is what made Brexit negotiations so difficult. And of course there was the northern Ireland issue with which they didn't even know what to do themselves. Also, them constantly replacing their negotiatiors didn't help. But at least they're out now.