France and Germany prepare plan B if UK exit

               

"There is a plan B in case of Brexit" repeated European leaders, however, a joint initiative to the "next day" to an eventual exit from the United Kingdom of the European Union begins to be studied by Paris and Berlin.

Whatever the outcome of the vote June 23 on the UK stay, something will certainly change in the European bloc.

Representatives from several European countries, including Germany, France and Italy, gathered quietly in May in Brussels, with Martin Selmayr, the influential director of the office of Head of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, to prepare the next day British referendum, according confided a source who asked not to be identified.

"The theme was mainly communication, which officially one say to the other, and how to say," added the source, ensuring that there was, however, the background discussions on the referendum consequences.

Asked about this type of meeting, a German government spokesman preferred not to comment. "I can not confirm or deny whether any such confidential meetings," Hans-Georg Streiter said at the time.

The next big meeting, this time official, is already on the agenda: it is the summit of heads of state and government of the EU, which was postponed to 28/29 June, days after the referendum, in which obviously the voting consequences should be on the agenda.

Franco-German project

Another anonymous source, however, said that Paris and Berlin have begun to lay the foundation of a joint initiative, after apparently having been devoted in recent months to a draft solutions to the existential crisis that Europe is facing.

According to this source, a common project - unknown content - is being discussed in this regard.

"We have to rely on a political message, a method, a calendar," said a senior European official, defending the Franco-German initiative.

This possible project would focus on security, but also give prospects for youth and not be limited to the euro zone, he added.

The scope of this initiative is still unclear.

Nothing transcended during the meeting at the last end of May weekend in Verdun, eastern France, between French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who gathered to commemorate the centenary of one of the fiercest battles of World War I .

The two leaders met for a working lunch to discuss immigration crisis, but UK theme was certainly on the agenda.

Meanwhile, waiting for more concrete data, diplomats and European officials were advised to maintain a low profile, particularly against the press.

And, supposedly, due to this thriller, it was asked to block lawyers to postpone their vacation plans in July.