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As negotiators prepare for the eighth round of talks, which began in London on Tuesday, Brussels was not confused for the first time with a clear UK strategy, notes politico.eu.
The British “greatly facilitate Barnier’s task of maintaining the necessary support in the EU capitals,” said an EU official who is heavily involved in the negotiations. But their timing is amazing. This is a case in which we have to seek a compromise very far. But instead, there is a media attack that is fueling another wave of weakening mutual trust between the two parties. And the level of trust is already very low ”, explained the official.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson threatened to withdraw from negotiations on Monday if an agreement with the EU could be signed in mid-October that could be similar to the European Union’s trade regime with Australia. The announcement came a day after UK chief negotiator David Frost gave a rare interview to The Mail on Sunday, warning that Britain would not “hesitate” on key negotiating issues.
And the highlight was the Financial Times announcement that the UK had passed legislation this week threatening parts of the Brexit deal that governs state aid and the Northern Ireland issue.
The latest message was initially denied by the UK government, which said the measures would only supplement the agreement or act as a safeguard mechanism in the worst case. However, a document released Wednesday shows that some provisions directly violate the provisions of an already signed agreement. The overall effect felt by Brussels is distrust, as the European Union has repeatedly stated that the implementation of the Brexit Agreement is a prerequisite for any agreement on future relations.
Boris johnson
The UK government announced on Wednesday a controversial new bill that, as London itself has recognized, violates its agreement with the European Union.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that the UK’s internal market law will help preserve jobs and peace in Northern Ireland, but his government acknowledges that the legislation provides for unilateral changes in violation of the withdrawal law. the European Union.
The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, for her part, warned that the proposed legislation would violate international law.
“Keep calm and support Michel Barnier”
Brussels sent that message again on Monday, this time from the CEO. “I trust the British government and believe that it will implement the Brexit deal, a compromise under international law and a prerequisite for any future partnership,” wrote European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Twitter. A spokesman for the European Commission said Barnier would raise the issue with Frost this week.
“I hope this is just another threatening act during the negotiations, but even if it is, it is detrimental to productivity. We seek a deal, but we don’t want it to come at any cost. If the UK pulls out of the Brexit deal, It seems clear that he does not want to conclude an agreement on future cooperation at any cost, “said Christophe Hansen, one of the main MEPs of the European Parliament for Brexit in the Committee on International Trade. .
Ursula von der Leyen
The EU official also noted that the UK is violating mutual trust: “If it does not intend to fulfill its obligations under one international agreement, how can it be expected to fulfill its obligations under the other agreement? What are we currently negotiating? “
However, these announcements will not change the outcome of this week’s round of negotiations, as no progress was expected in any case. “We are fully focused on extracting as much as possible from both the negotiation phase this week and those that will take place later,” said a spokesman for the European Commission.
The EU official also pointed to a Twitter post by French European Affairs Minister Clement Beaune posted over the weekend: “Keep calm and support Michel Barnier.”
A storm in the media
However, media reports in the UK continue to worry Brexit officials.
Given how messages from the UK government were spread across the front pages of major publications, it can be argued that London is preparing a local Brexit audience without a deal if Johnson decides that the political cost of a different solution is too high.
These reports could also be an attempt to lower expectations by trying to encourage the European Union to forego state aid and fisheries issues by threatening to undermine the EU withdrawal agreement and implement Brexit without a deal.
When asked if anything positive could be expected from this week’s round of talks, officials pointed to the fact that Brexit has returned to the spotlight.
For a long time, the European Commission has been warning that the end of the transition period will bring barriers to trade and other areas of cross-border trade, whether an agreement is reached or not. He informed national governments and European companies about the need to prepare, but the focus was on the coronavirus pandemic. The new media attention to the Brexit negotiations is expected to remind governments why the deal is so important.
Boris johnson
In any case, the European Union believes that the ball is now on the UK’s side. Barnier has indicated where the EU can show flexibility to compromise, and Brussels believes it is now up to London to do the same.
Look at the trade figures. If there is no deal, the blood will flow from both sides of the nose, but the UK will also suffer a concussion, “said an EU official involved in the negotiations.
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