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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has raised tensions in the Brexit negotiations, which have been stalled for months, with an ultimatum.
2:14 pm, September 7, 2020
The British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has exacerbated tensions in the Brexit negotiations, stalled for months, with an ultimatum. Johnson demanded a deal by October 15 the day before the new round of talks in London. Otherwise, there could be no trade agreement between the two parties.
Furthermore, media reported on Monday, the government threatened, in one of the most surprising twists of the four-year Brexit saga, with the failure of an agreement on future relations to nullify parts of the January exit agreement. . This could not only jeopardize the treaty, but also reignite the conflict in Northern Ireland. The time pressure was already great beforehand. Because even EU Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier it had recently noted that an agreement had to be in effect by the end of October at the latest so that the ratification process could be completed in time for the end of the year.
Been like Australia
If no deal is reached, the UK will trade with the EU, like Australia, Johnson said. That would also be “a good result”. For the European Union, this would amount to the dreaded unregulated Brexit. Barnier, expected in London on Tuesday, expressed concern. “The negotiations are difficult because the British want the best of both worlds,” the Frenchman told France Inter radio station. But he still believes that it is possible to reach an agreement on the particularly contentious issue of fishing rights. Furthermore, Britain’s insistence on full autonomy in state aid is a sticking point.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the EU Commission He urged Britain to honor its Brexit commitments if it wants to have an agreement on future relations with the EU. She is confident London will do it, she tweeted. A government spokesman said in Berlin that an agreement was still possible. However, Britain has to move.
Confidence loss warning
EU diplomats warned the government in London that walking away from contractual commitments would cause Britain to lose trust around the world and reduce the chances of a trade deal. “Who would want to negotiate trade agreements with a country that does not implement international treaties?” Asked a diplomat. “It would be a desperate strategy and ultimately self-destructive.”
Head of SPÖ-UE Delegation in the EU Parliament Andreas Schieder demanded, meanwhile, a concession from Britain: “Instead of finally showing an honest willingness to negotiate, Prime Minister Johnson continues to play his irresponsible game. The Tories’ bargaining is simply grotesque. Future EU-Great relations Britain does not need threatening gestures, but an agreement based on the Withdrawal Agreement. “
The government does not comment
The British government did not comment directly on the reports, including in the Financial Times, about one Partial deviation from the exit agreement. A spokeswoman only told the associated Northern Ireland Protocol that they are working to resolve outstanding issues with the EU, but are considering withdrawal options. The government will act in the best interest of Northern Ireland and the UK domestic market. However, the highest priority is to preserve the achievements of the peace process in Northern Ireland. In the exit agreement, the British government promised to avoid a hard border between the EU country Ireland and Northern Ireland. Walking away from the deal could lead to conflict with Ireland and with Northern Irish nationalists.
Britain left the EU in January. However, until the end of the year there is still a transitional phase in which future relationships need to be clarified, for example in the field of trade. If no agreement is reached, there is a risk of an unregulated exit. In such a case, experts warn of serious financial consequences for both parties. The concerns were also felt in the financial market: the British pound fell about half a percent against the dollar and the euro.
