E.U. may fell apart, says German vice chancellor

Germany's Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel warned that the European Union might be in deep trouble if the U.K. is allowed to retain the “nice things” related to the bloc membership while taking no responsibility in the wake of Brexit. The minister’s remarks came as British Prime Minister Theresa May called a cabinet meeting to discuss the government’s Brexit strategy on Wednesday.

Gabriel said that Europe is being regarded as an “unstable continent” following the U.K.’s decision to leave the E.U. in a referendum vote on June 23, writes the BBC. During the past week, German Chancellor Angela Merkel met a number of European leaders, preparing a blueprint for a September summit, which will center on the E.U.’s future after Britain leaves the bloc.

E.U. leaders assert that Britain must accept the bloc’s principles such as free movement of people in order to retain access to Europe’s single market of 500 million consumers, reports The Guardian. According to a British government official, the formal divorce talks with the E.U. are likely to begin by the end of the year.

Gabriel also said that the E.U. and the U.S. have failed to reach an agreement on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership or T.T.I.P. despite 14 rounds of talks. Analysts from several countries, including Germany and the U.K., have been critical of T.T.I.P., saying that the deal would have an adverse impact on jobs, consumers and the environment.