EU plays hardball over post-Brexit Britain

Britain runs the risk of being punished by the European Union in the 21-month transition period following its exit from the trading block, under plans being drawn up in Brussels.

In the aftermath of Brexit, which is due to take place on March 29, 2019, London must continue to observe laws which cover EU members, but without any decision-making power - a move EU critics have said will leave the Britain as a "vassal state".

AFP reported that the latest draft of the transition agreement calls for a "mechanism allowing the union to suspend certain benefits deriving for the United Kingdom from participation in the internal market" if there is insufficient time to take the matter to the EU's highest court in Luxembourg.