Inspired by John Lennon, EU's Donald Tusk ‘imagines’ no Brexit

European Council President Donald Tusk suggests that the door remains open to the UK staying in the EU

European Council President Donald Tusk suggests door remains open for UK if it wants to stay
European Council President Donald Tusk suggests door remains open for UK if it wants to stay

“You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one,” Europena council President Donald Tusk told a press conference in Brussels ahead of a meeting of the EU27.

European leaders are meeting in Brussels to discuss Brexit, security and migration. As usual, UK Prime Minister will attend the gathering on Thursday and address the leaders during the working dinner, but will then leave the 27 leaders to review her Brexit negotiations.

During the press conference, Tusk conveyed his thoughts on the prospects of the UK actually remaining in the EU: “Some of my British friends have even asked me whether Brexit could be reversed, and whether I could imagine an outcome where the UK stays part of the EU. I told them that in fact the European Union was built on dreams that seemed impossible to achieve. So, who knows?”

Quoting John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’, Tusk added: "You may say I'm a dreamer, but I am not the only one."

Newly-elected French President Emmanuel Macron and German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble both said last week that the "door was open" for Britain to remain in the EU.

Tusk insisted the remaining 27 members had a renewed sense of optimism about the bloc's future after years of crisis and mounting anti-EU sentiment culminating in the Brexit vote.

Despite it being his 80th summit as premier or EU head, "never before have I had such a strong belief that things are going in a better direction," he said.

"Our optimism should still be extremely cautious but we have good reason to talk about it," Tusk said earlier.

Malta's Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and UK Prime Minister Theresa May
Malta's Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and UK Prime Minister Theresa May

Upon her arrival in Brussels, UK Prime Minister Theresa May said that she was “very pleased” to be at the European Council following what she described as “a constructive start” to Brexit negotiations.

“It’s also about building a special and deep partnership with our friends and allies in the European Union,” she told reporters.

In her address during the working dinner, May is expected to raise proposals on how the rights of EU and UK citizens could be protected, post-Brexit.