a sting in the tail #2
EU側は,国境間の自由な人々の移動に対して妥協しないという声明を出しました。EU側の声明は英国に対する牽制です。英国がEU市場にアクセスしたいのであれば,人材の自由な往来を制限することはできないということです。
記事の中で気になった表現は"a sting in the tail"です。『Wisdom英和辞典第三版』(三省堂)で調べると「(相手を傷つける[不愉快にする]) 予期せぬ話の結末[結論]; 辛辣な部分」などという意味がありました。Oxford Dictionaries.comには"An unexpected, typically unpleasant or problematic end to something"と定義されております。英国に対して強固な姿勢で臨むことで,EU諸国の結束を高めているのかもしれません。(Ume)
Brexit: EU says no compromise on freedom of movement
You could say the EU is acting like a general after losing a battle - but a general determined to continue the campaign.
But all the leaders were clear that you cannot have the advantages of the EU single market without playing by the rules - including free movement of people.
Brexit is a huge crisis for the EU. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said "we have no illusions - it's a qualitatively different task" compared with previous crises.
They are all worried about contagion from the UK's economic instability.
Italy's Prime Minister Matteo Renzi left the summit with a sting in the tail, saying: "The Brits have made a choice. We are sorry, but at the end of the day they will be worse off - not Europe."