Brexit: Barnier hardens tone in the face of London News

relations have been strained a little more Wednesday between London and Brussels. The chief negotiator for the Brexit for the EU, Michel Barnier, has made public in the after-noon, the letter he had addressed to his british counterpart, David Frost. An exchange of good process, as it had done the same the day before.

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In his missive, the former French minister, is very critical on the method used. "I do think (...) not only an exchange of letters concerning the substance of the negotiations is necessarily the best way to discuss key points," he wrote, worrying that the "your adopted" by Frost "has an impact on the mutual trust and the constructive attitude which are essential between us." While discussions are held and that the third round of negotiations, which ended last Friday has led to a new failure, the mail, the trader's british actually sounded like an ultimatum. "I hope that in the coming weeks, the EU will look again at its proposals in a way that enables us to find an expeditious and constructive", and warned the negotiator for the british, denouncing the fact that has been put on the table by the EU, "an agreement of relatively low quality, with a monitoring of the Union's unprecedented on our laws and our institutions". The next round of negotiations must begin 1 June, while the United Kingdom must formally leave the european Union end of 2020 and no later than the end of June whether or not they wish an extension of the transition period. At this stage, the London exclude this extension.

A single framework: the letter of agreement

As it has been for months, Michel Barnier lists in his letter to the red lines of the EU. First, the chief negotiator of the EU reminds his counterpart that the trade agreement established with the Canada -he does not cite - do not apply to the United Kingdom in an automatic way. And the only part that applies to this negotiation is the political declaration on future relations, signed by Twenty-Seven and Boris Johnson in October 2019. "There is no automatic right to benefit from all the advantages that the EU has been able to provide, or provide in other contexts and circumstances to other partners, often very different. Every agreement that the EU has concluded is unique, with its own balance of rights and obligations, suitable to the partner and at the time of its conclusion. There is no model in the commercial policy of the EU", stresses as well Barnier. Which comes back to the rules of fair competition are deemed too strict by the British on the grounds that the Uk would then lose its sovereignty. "Given our geographic proximity and our economic interdependence, we have to have important safeguards for fair competition in order to avoid trade distortions and competitive advantages, to the benefit of consumers and businesses on both sides".

see also : Brexit: the "visio-negotiations remain in stalemate

Finally, regarding police and judicial cooperation, the chief negotiator emphasized that "neither the EU had previously offered a security partnership, as narrow and extended to a third country not member of the Schengen area". He adds that the continued access to the databases of the Union or of chengen requires, in return, of "solid guarantees in terms of protection of fundamental rights".

No question, however, for Michel Barnier to end his missive on a negative note. "With the mutual respect and the constructive engagement of the United Kingdom on all points of the negotiating table, we can go forward in the limited time we have available," he concludes his mail.

The teams, the chief negotiator of the Union, would have long hesitated before to publish this letter and would be especially great concern about the tone to use. "When they read the letter very aggressive Frost, they wondered if the objective of the British was not of a strained relationship at the maximum and at the end arrive to a suspension of the negotiations. But they responded because they had to meet," says a source in brussels. Whatever it is, it is not excluded that David Frost receives a lot of email in the next few hours. In fact, his e-mail address written in black and white on the letter circulated by Michel Barnier on Twitter.

If the relations are not cordial between the EU and London, however, the Commission has welcomed the announcement by Michael Gove, on Wednesday, the introduction of customs controls on food products food between England and Northern Ireland. Boris Johnson had said on several occasions that there would be no control.

The editorial team conseilleBrexit: our folder for any comprendreBrexit: divorce uk with the EU,collateral victims of the coronavirusSujetsMichel BarnierBrexitEuropeBruxelles287 commentairesC RIBINNle 21/05/2020 21:00

Sometimes refer to the figures is instructive. The Guardian told us this week that the UK traded 3 times less with US than with the EU and that he is above all of services, therefore, with less deposit and lower taxes. The threat of the zapping to US, therefore, is not very credible.

anonymele 21/05/2020 20:58

Johnson tries the coarse diversion, after a worse than ours of the COVID. After the fake hospital, he waves the red rag to the Brexit hard. Johnson is not a politician, he is a poker player. Queen Victoria must be turning in his grave.

anonymele 21/05/2020 20:58

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