• Divorce in the EU.Juncker, to Johnson: "Europe never loses patience"
  • Brexit.Boris Johnson plants the Luxembourg Prime Minister to escape boos

There are barely six and a half weeks left for the United Kingdom to theoretically leave the EU. Although this soap opera has made it clear that nothing is written on stone, all actions, statements and preparations suggest that the question is not whether there will be Brexit or not, but how hard the break will be. After David Cameron caused the separation, and Theresa May ruled during the break in two of the United Kingdom, the most provocative, uncontrollable and arrogant prime minister in a long time has the challenge of trying to avoid the total disaster. And for that, his big bet is to turn around language, names and some details by developing a 'third way' that eliminates the so-called 'backstop' , the safeguard clause for Northern Ireland. Or at least modify it enough so that its co-religionists can approve it and Parliament approves the Exit Agreement with the EU, which has languished in a drawer since last November.

"Europe never loses patience," Jean-Claude Juncker said in Luxembourg yesterday upon arrival at his first official meeting with Boris Johnson Prime Minister. The European approach is very simple: there is an Exit Agreement and a Political Declaration on the future relationship, the 27 and Theresa May approved it and the United Kingdom should do the same at once. On the British side, Johnson came with a more national and international agenda. He and his Government, in a major political and constitutional crisis, argue that the Exit Agreement is impossible because the famous 'backstop', the safeguard clause that indicates that in the worst case the United Kingdom will remain within the Single Market and the Customs Union to avoid a hard border between the two Irlandas (something that would jeopardize the Good Friday Agreements), is unacceptable. And so it must disappear.

"President Juncker has stressed that it is the responsibility of the United Kingdom to propose operational solutions that are compatible with the Exit Agreement. The President stressed that the European Commission remains willing and open to examine whether these ideas meet the objectives of the backstop "Those kinds of proposals have not been made yet," said the Luxembourgian on departure. What does today's meeting obey? In recent weeks, David Frost , Johnson's community affairs advisor, has had several rounds of talks with European officials and negotiators, as well as some ambassadors. On the menu: what options are there to eliminate or review the 'backstop'. It is important to remember that for the EU this protection formula is not sacred . They have always said that the situation in Ireland must be preserved, but there is no irrational rigidity. The official position of the 27 has always been that if there are alternative, legal, and solvent formulas, they would be happy to dispense with this mechanism of last resort. The problem is that, to date, there is no true Plan B.

The United Kingdom has been complaining for almost a year, but without presenting alternatives because either the Parliament, or the Labor Party or the DUP, the Norwegian partners of the Tories, prevent it . Until now. In recent weeks there are some signs of movement. The British press talks that the DUP could twist the hand. The Brussels plan was always that the safeguard covered only Northern Ireland, not the entire United Kingdom. It was Theresa May who imposed the entire island because the DUP refused to have a different customs or commercial status within the United Kingdom, since they considered that they could end up being discriminated against. Now, some open the door back to the original idea.

British optimism

There are more news. Frost, Johnson's Sherpa, has suggested to his European colleagues that instead of 'backstop' a series of "regulatory alignments" be used (this expression appears in the document signed by May and Juncker in December 2017) on phytosanitary issues and that the merely economic issues of border and tariff issues be left for later, in an indefinite transitional period. Until now, there is only the real possibility of a transition if the Exit Agreement is signed. Without him, with a Brexit without agreement and the bravado, there would be nothing like it. All legislation would cease to apply suddenly the next day, on November 1 if there is no news.

Among European officials and diplomats there is a sense that something new might work. That is, keep something almost traced or very similar to what is stated in the Exit Agreement, but with another name and some cosmetic touch-ups that serve Johnson to overcome his blockade. "The Prime Minister confirmed his commitment to the Good Friday Agreements and his determination to reach an agreement in which the 'backstop' is eliminated and that British deputies can support. The Prime Minister also reiterated that he will not ask for an extension and that he will take out to the UK from the EU on October 31, "said a British spokesman after lunch in Luxembourg.

The British side, as usual, seems much more optimistic than the community side. In Brussels they perceive the enthusiasm and energy in the Johnson-led block, but they continue to complain, week after week, that there is a lot of noise and few nuts. No concrete progress came out of Luxembourg. It was completely expected. It was about using personal chemistry, seeing how far the other can or does intend to go. Restoring bonds of trust, something that after the words and actions of the now British Prime Minister in recent years is somewhat titanic. That Johnson left the race leaving shortly after planted the Luxembourg Prime Minister, not to appear with background shouts of critics of Brexit, is a bad sign and a new blush. The position of their European partners is that they will be delighted that there is agreement , they will not do the dirty work. You can expect honesty and goodwill, but no gift.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

  • Theresa May
  • Jean-Claude Juncker
  • Europe
  • David Cameron
  • European Comission
  • Boris johnson

EUThe President of the Eurocamara: "Listening to parliaments is always good in democracy"

BrexitJuncker, to Johnson: "Europe never loses patience"

United Kingdom: 'Tories' hawks and pigeons