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UK must play by EU rules on free market access: European Council

Wednesday, 29 June 2016 3:13 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 29 June 2016 3:21 PM ]

European Council President Donald Tusk addresses a news conference on the second day of the EU summit in Brussels, Belgium, June 29, 2016. ©Reuters

The president of the European Council has ruled out free EU trade access for the UK after leaving the European Union without accepting the bloc’s freedom of movement rules.

Donald Tusk said on Wednesday that EU leaders have agreed that Britain cannot have access to the single market as a non-member without accepting the right of other EU nationals to move to the country.

"Leaders made it crystal clear that access to the single market requires acceptance of all four freedoms - including freedom of movement," Tusk said, following a meeting of 27 leaders of EU member states, adding, "There will be no single market a la carte."

He said the remaining 27 nations are "absolutely determined" to stay united after Britain's departure.

Meanwhile, French President Francois Hollande also echoed Tusk’s remarks on Wednesday, stressing that Britain would have to abide by European Union rules after voting to leave the bloc last week if it wants to maintain access to the single market.

French President Francois Hollande speaks during a media conference at the end of an EU summit in Brussels on June 29, 2016. ©AP

British Prime Minister David Cameron told the full European Council meeting on Tuesday night that concerns about maintaining open borders was a key factor behind the country’s vote for Brexit and pushed for reforms to freedom of movement rules, which are currently a condition of single market access.

European leaders have taken a tough stance against British efforts to leave the EU, promising a hard-line stance on allowing the UK to keep free access to the largest consumer market in the world without maintaining open borders.

Spain opposes negotiating EU membership with Scotland

As reactions continue to pour in following the UK’s divorce from the bloc, Spain on Wednesday reacted to Scotland’s bid to remain within the EU after the Brexit, saying Madrid was opposed to negotiating potential EU membership with Scotland.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy leaves an EU summit in Brussels on June 29, 2016. ©AP

"I want to be very clear. Scotland does not have the competence to negotiate with the European Union. Spain opposes any negotiation by anyone other than the government of United Kingdom," Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy told a news conference following the summit of European leaders in Brussels.

"I am extremely against it, the treaties are extremely against it and I believe everyone is extremely against it. If the United Kingdom leaves... Scotland leaves," he added.

The Brexit vote has been hugely unpopular in Scotland which seeks to remain in the EU even after Britain’s vote to leave.

Britain’s Leave vote has already prompted right-wing European parties in France and Eastern Europe to call for similar referendums.

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