Shiren Hermanns, 30, a German who works for the European Commission in Brussels, stands outside the EC building in Brussels. About Brexit, she says, “It’s an unfortunate development and I don't think it’s been handled well. I’m not sure they understood what they were getting themselves into.” Photo: Susannah Ireland / NBC News
Shiren Hermanns, 30, a German who works for the European Commission in Brussels, stands outside the EC building in Brussels. Photo: Susannah Ireland / NBC News

By Rachel Elbaum
21 February 2019

BRUSSELS (NBC News) – Europeans in Brussels, the unofficial capital of the E.U., have some choice words to describe Britain’s attempt to leave the 28-country bloc.

“Horrifying,” “chaotic” and “frustrating” are just a few of them.

There are just 36 days left until Brexit, and lawmakers have been unable to agree on how it will leave and what the future relationship will look like.

“It’s like watching a car crash in slow motion and you can’t do anything to stop it,” said Jess Fitch, who was born and raised in Belgium to British parents and is a U.K. national. […]

“There is disbelief and bewilderment,” said Petros Fassoulas, the secretary general of European Movement International, a lobbying group that promotes European integration. “It is impossible to comprehend how badly this has been handled.” […]

“The fact that it’s been so difficult to understand what the Brits want has soured attitudes, and now the sense is the sooner they are out the better,” said Fassoulas, who was born and raised in Greece, worked in London and now lives in Brussels. […]

“It’s an unfortunate development and I don’t think it’s been handled well. I’m not sure they understood what they were getting themselves into,” said Shirin Hermanns, 30, a German who works for the European Commission in Brussels. [more]

Europeans watch Brexit chaos in ‘disbelief and bewilderment’