By Jacopo Barigazzi, Maïa de La Baume and Lili Bayer
Brussels is on edge, but it has no intention of going dorsum to the Brexit drawing board.
Chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier told a coming together of EU27 ambassadors Fri forenoon that whatever political “difficulties” Theresa May is experiencing inward London, the bloc has a “duty” to stand upward theater on its fundamental Brexit blood-red lines, according to European Union diplomats present.
For her part, May is standing theater on the care inward the human face upward of a gale of criticism as well as is intent on pushing the care to a vote inward the House of Commons. But if political opponents inward her ain political party succeed inward forcing her to seek a amend deal, in that location is no sign that whatever of the EU27 blood-red lines volition change.
We cannot “compromise” or engage inward “cherry-picking” or “bargaining,” Barnier told ambassadors, referring to requests to reopen the draft deal that was agreed past times the British Cabinet on Wednesday. He added that he expects “difficult negotiations” ahead.
Barnier also expressed a wishing to aid the British authorities inward its efforts to ratify the text inward a vote of MPs. And he said that in that location could move room for displace on the European Union side inward specific areas, such every bit enhanced cooperation on phytosanitary regulations as well as so-called technical barriers to trade. It is a 2nd non for triumphalism, he said, but for “encouragement.”
“All eyes are on London. We catch in that location are some turbulences” — European Union diplomat
The main negotiator’s presentation at the to a greater extent than than two-hour coming together reflects a dilemma for Brussels. While European Union countries wishing to aid May larn the care through parliament, in that location is a reluctance at such a belatedly phase to radically unpick the understanding — despite threats to May’s leadership as well as a serial of ministerial resignations over the deal.
Diplomats state that some tweaks mightiness withal move possible if they could brand the deviation betwixt the care succeeding or crashing, but the sort of radical overhaul proposed past times Brexiteers such every bit erstwhile Brexit Secretary David Davis is only non on the table. There is “no question” of that, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday.
“If nosotros renegotiate something it could move on real minor details,” said a senior European Union diplomat “[but] it volition non move on the main issues.”
“Europeans are non scared, but real cautious, as well as everybody hopes the care volition move approved,” he added, maxim that the outset major challenge volition move the tight timescale to consider the details of the care earlier a hastily arranged European Union leaders’ pinnacle on Nov 25.
There is “no question” of radical overhaul of the deal, German linguistic communication Chancellor Angela Merkel said | John Thys/AFP via Getty Images
“Some of us volition shout out for to consult our MPs on the text, as well as brand the necessary democratic deliberations inward our countries,” the diplomat added.
“All eyes are on London,” said some other European Union diplomat. “We catch in that location are some turbulences.” Asked almost the mood inward Brussels, the diplomat said: “It’s a feeling of relief that at to the lowest degree there’s a text on the table.” Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 tertiary diplomat added: “Everyone is committed to getting the ball over the line.”
In whatever case, every bit Barnier said Wednesday, European Union capitals experience that they receive got already given meaning the world inward the concluding stages of the talks. And non everyone is happy amongst all aspects of the concluding deal.
“We had to receive got compromises,” said the 2nd diplomat. “There are some points that also brand some European Union members uncomfortable.”
The diplomat cited the EU’s acceptance of an all-U.K. customs backstop — every bit an insurance mensurate to forbid a hard border inward Northern Republic of Ireland — as well as the determination to kicking negotiations almost fisheries access into the transition menses that volition directly follow Brexit hateful solar daytime inward March adjacent year. “It’s non clear, as well as it volition deport upon millions of jobs,” said the senior European Union diplomat. “There’s zilch precise.”
Barnier was briefing ambassadors on the province of ongoing talks almost the political announcement — the document that volition accompany the 585-page Withdrawal Agreement. Only a cursory seven-page outline of that was published on Midweek level as well as the main negotiator indicated that several issues are withal inward play.
“Any regulatory gap is a serious issue” — Senior diplomat
On safety matters including participation inward European Union agencies such every bit Europol as well as Eurojust he said, according to 2 European Union diplomats, that the UK does withal “not accept” the total ramifications of non beingness an European Union fellow member country. But Barnier added that both sides portion the aim of unopen cooperation. And on mechanisms to ensure in that location is a score playing champaign betwixt British as well as European Union businesses subsequently Brexit, European Union ambassadors expressed reservations inward the tidings next Barnier’s briefing.
“Any regulatory gap is a serious issue,” said the senior diplomat, adding that the text “isn’t clear” on environmental as well as social measures. “The consequences are of import because it could lift whatever regulatory gap on major issues.” One country’s illustration is also “worried” that the text offers also much to the UK on services.
French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire | Sébastien Bozon/AFP via Getty Images
Despite the wishing non to contribute to political instability inward London, non all European Union politicians are adopting a softly softly approach. France’s economic scheme minister, Bruno Le Maire, said on Friday that Brexit is leading Great Britain into “a nightmare” as well as called on “lying as well as irresponsible” Brexiteers to abandon their project, or human face upward economical meltdown.
“The British politicians, who receive got argued for Brexit, at nowadays receive got a pick betwixt reneging on their absurd political hope or an economical disaster of which the British people volition move the outset victim,” he said.
His to a greater extent than cautious colleagues may move hoping that the people he is referring to are also preoccupied to notice.
David Herszenhorn contributed reporting.
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