EU s Tusk calls for mutual respect amid election spat with UK

Brussels May 4 (IANS) European Council President Donald Tusk on Thursday called for mutual respect one day after British Prime Minister Theresa May claimed that bureaucrats in Brussels were trying to affect the upcoming snap election in Britain and ruin Brexit talks.

Brexit talks difficult enough. If emotions get out of hand they ll become impossible. Discretion moderation and mutual respect needed Tusk tweeted alluding to May s remarks.

At stake are the daily lives and interests of millions of people on both sides of the Channel he added.

A spokesperson of the European Commission earlier also brushed aside May s claim saying the EU was too busy to care about British election.

This election in the United Kingdom is mainly about Brexit but we here in Brussels we are rather busy with our policy work we have too much to do on our plate said Margaritis Schinas the European Commission s chief spokesperson.

When we have a British government immediately after the UK election we ll be very busy in engaging constructively in Article 50 negotiation for which we are ready he added.

May on Wednesday made her most stinging remark so far against EU bureaucrats in Brussels accusing them of trying to ruin Brexit talks.

In her briefing outside 10 Downing Street May said the events of the last few days had shown that whatever Britain s wishes there were some people in Brussels who did not want Brexit talks to succeed and did not want Britain to prosper.

The European Commission s negotiating stance has hardened. Threats against Britain have been issued by European politicians and officials May said.

The British Prime Minister said these acts had been deliberately timed to affect the result of the upcoming general election.

May and the Conservative Party remain well ahead in the opinion polls pointing to a victory for May with an increased majority on June 8 if the pollsters are right.

--IANS
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