As the United Kingdom and the European Union entered a new phase of negotiations on the terms of their future relationship, the tone hardened Monday between Michel Barnier and Boris Johnson, who each presented their goals and their red lines , on Monday.

Three days after the entry into force of Brexit, the battle for the post has already started between London and Brussels. On Monday, the tone hardened between British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the European negotiator Michel Barnier, who each presented their objectives and their red lines for the new phase of negotiations supposed to last until December 31, 2020, and during which the two parties will have to agree on the terms of their future relationship.

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The Europeans offered a large trade agreement to the British, including the possibility for all their goods to continue to cross the Channel without customs duties and without volume limits. But Brussels nonetheless sets conditions, including compliance with European rules and standards and an agreement on fishing. Conditions that annoy Boris Johnson, who wants to find room for maneuver in these areas.

Michel Barnier "doesn't want to be impressed"

In the United Kingdom, the British Prime Minister therefore rejected any alignment with European Union rules as "free trade prices". "We want a prosperous relationship with the European Union. We are not going to start a ruthless race to the bottom, we are not going to compete unfairly," he said. According to the head of government, there is no need for a free trade agreement to accept European rules on competitiveness, social protection, the environment, or anything else, as it there is no need for the European Union to be forced to accept British rules. "

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For his part, the French Michel Barnier dangled a "very ambitious" trade agreement, but also responded to Boris Johnson. "I will always be very calm in this negotiation," he assured, "but I ask that we be respected too, and we are not going to be impressed by this or that declaration". "We have a goal based on a precise text agreed by the two parties, I hope that we can now work seriously," continued the EU negotiator.