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Belgian publication De Tijd predicted the chances of the UK securing a proposed customs agreement are low and accused ministers of wanting a no strings attached relationship with Europe.

It claimed that UK voters were beginning to realise that the bogus benefits a divorce from the EU would bring were based on illusions and described Theresa Mays government as weakened.

Separately, the centre-left Slovakian newspaper Pravda claimed in its editorial that Britain could have secured reforms to free movement from within the EU that so many voters wanted.

It said Austria and Germany are already pressing for a tightening of the rules which allow people to circulate around the bloc, saying the UK had gone about securing control over immigration the wrong way by quitting.

A number of senior EU leaders, also including French leader Emmanuel Macron, are pressing for a crackdown on abuses of the free movement principle including limiting the rights of posted workers.

The new Paris chief has taken a surprisingly tough line on immigration as he looks to woo people who voted for Marine Le Pen, and has voiced concerns over wage undercutting similar to those raised last June.

But it is unclear as of yet whether his proposals to crack down on unfair wage competition will get past Brussels, and if they do whether they would be strong enough to assuage some British voters fears about immigration.

In its editorial, Pravda stated: Many would prefer to turn back time and reverse the last year's referendum on the withdrawal of the British from the European Union.

The British want to limit the influx of migrants and want to cut social benefits for those who already arrived, while at the same time benefiting from the free movement of goods and services.

These are reasonable goals. Only the British have chosen the wrong way to reach them. A reasonable reduction in social benefits for migrants could have been achieved if they were to remain in the EU. This is already being discussed in Austria and Germany anyway.

Meanwhile De Tijd, a Belgian economics paper modelled on the Financial Times, laid into the promises made by Brexiteers during the referendum and dismissed the idea of a new customs union with the UK.

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British Secretary of State for International Trade Liam Fox delivers remarks on 'The Future of UK Trade Policy' at the American Enterprise Institute

It said: "The chances of this are low. Yesterday the EU Commission clearly repeated that three issues had to be resolved before discussions on trade relations.

It is about the rights of EU citizens after Brexit, the status of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and perhaps the most difficult issue, the agreement on the pending bill the British still have to pay the EU.

As long as no agreement is in sight, other topics have little chance. The weakened British government is in a difficult situation. Apart from the internal disagreement over the nature of Brexit they ultimately want to have it, the British public is aware that the bogus benefits a divorce from the EU would bring were based on illusions.

Brexit is heading for a catastrophe. This can not be covered by ideas of a temporary customs union. This merely reinforces the impression that the British want to have lust without strings. The EU should not allow it.

Continued here:
European newspapers have said Brexit is unnecessary - Express.co.uk