[nabla9]

>Why would EU member states do anything to help a country that is destabilising the entire EU project.

It's not help. It's for the benefit of everyone. The whole point of EU is that it's not zero-sum game.

Britain's negotiation position is weakened, but other EU countries want to get access into British markets just as much as Brits want to get into EU markets.

[random_upvoter]

> Britain's negotiation position is weakened

The EU isn't in the greatest shape either.

In the past, it was always Britain vs. Germany and France because Britain was the problem child. As from now, Britain has more possibilities to align closer to Germany OR France -- which may possibly divide the partners, especially because German-French relations have been strained in recent years. The time of Mitterand and Kohl holding hands like lovers has gone.

[jacquesm]

You are sorely mistaken. If anything you'll see a closing of the ranks like hasn't been on display for a very long time.

[nabla9]

>Britain has more possibilities to align closer to Germany OR France

This does not make any sense to me.

Does anyone else think that way? I think you are just freely fantasizing.

[random_upvoter]

I'm just skeptical about this supposition that a firmly united Europe is going to wipe the floor with the UK. This is not some 5 million people nation that you're going to boss around a bit. The UK has one of the longest running systems of government in the world with a diplomatic tradition going back to the power games of 19th century Europe. It has strong ties to the Commonwealth and the United States. While negotiating with the EU it only needs to look after its own interests. Opposite the UK stands the EU consisting of 27 nations, all with their own interests, many of which have to deal with their own eurosceptics at home. There's been mounting discontent about the domineering role of Germany. I believe that things may become very interesting.