Dutch MEP Marietje Schaake blasted the European Union for agreeing to extend the "Brexit drama" for a further six months so close to the next round of elections for members of the European Parliament. Theresa May last week secured a further delay to the Brexit deadline until October 31 and signed the country up for the European parliamentary elections set to take place in May. But while European Council boss Donald Tusk welcomed the extension, Ms Shaake expressed concern about debate more on the "toxic" issue.
Speaking to Euronews, the Dutch politician said: "I hear a lot of hope here in Europe because, of course, the vast majority of us in the EU27, the European Parliament, would have never wanted to see the splitting of one of our most valued member states and all of our member state, even if we’re representing different political parties.
"The fact that nobody here is excited about Brexit is not a secret but I do think, at this point, the postponing without a clear solution on the UK’s side is tricky. Hope is not a strategy.
"To import all of the depolarisation as well as the Brexiteers that now see a new opportunity if they were to run in European elections, the notion of them being not heard – which of course they have been dominating the discourse for years because their narrative is that they are not heard – is toxic for all the EU."
Ms Schaake urged the EU and fellow MEPs to "think critically" about the potential consequences delaying Brexit could have on the bloc as the Parliament and Commission prepare to change their leadership.
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