British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has faced German and French warnings of a Brexit scenario that would have negative economic implications for the British and Europeans.
Having repeatedly stressed since taking office about a month ago that he is ready to carry out Britain's exit from the European Union by October 31, Johnson went today to Berlin, and then to Paris, in an attempt to persuade German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron to negotiate a new agreement His country is avoiding an unsafe exit from European space.
In Berlin, the British prime minister told the German chancellor that he did not accept the current agreement with the European Union, saying that the agreement - which was concluded by former Prime Minister Theresa May - either divides Britain or obliges it to the current European arrangements without having anything to say about it.
During the meeting, Merkel expressed the hope that within 30 days will reach an agreement with Britain to exit the European Union while avoiding the "safety net" plan for the Irish border, which London rejects.
Prior to Johnson's arrival in Berlin, the German chancellor warned of negative economic repercussions that could result from Brexit without agreement, in light of the current international trade tension, and a report warned a few days ago that Britain could be subjected to disturbances in this case, including the supply of food and medicine.
On Monday, Johnson sent a letter to European Council President Donald Tusk demanding the cancellation of the safety net clause on the border between Ireland (a member of the European Union) and British-controlled Northern Ireland.
The safety net clause is a temporary measure that keeps Britain in the customs union with the EU until a final solution to the Irish border crisis is reached.
French response
In Paris, the French president said, in response to Johnson's request to cancel the safety net clause, that renegotiating the agreement between Britain and the European Union is not an option.
Macron's stance on Britain's withdrawal from the European Union is described as more assertive.
Earlier in the day, an official in the French presidency said that leaving Britain without agreement became the most likely scenario for Britain to leave the European Union.
The official rejected Johnson's request to abolish the safety net mechanism aimed at avoiding the establishment of border points between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland under the British, the maintenance of the Irish Peace Agreement (known as the Good Friday Agreement) of 1998, and the unity of the European Common Market.
The French official also rejected Johnson's comments that Britain would not have to pay the withdrawal bill of 47 billion dollars (39 billion pounds) if the EU left without an agreement.