The EU gains nothing from letting Britain off easy, and has everything to lose. Making it easy for Britain to leave and maintain all their existing trade agreements with EU partner states simply emasculates the EU and everything it stands for and is trying to accomplish. The EU hasn't even existed for a generation yet. And the real benefits won't be felt for two more generations. You need people BORN in the EU - and their kids - before you have the cultural identity established, and treasured, by those who live within it. When separate states is an inconceivable state for those commuting to work every day. If the EU is going to live through this, they have no choice but to run Britain through the wringer, and make them jump over every possible hurdle they can conceive. Otherwise this amazing experiment dies before it even reaches puberty.