EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier warned on Tuesday that the EU would not "conclude at any cost" a post-Brexit deal with the UK, slated for later this year.
Negotiations on the future commercial relationship between the EU and London will be "difficult, perhaps even very difficult", warned Michel Barnier at a press conference in Brussels, after having obtained the green light from the 27 of the 'Union for its negotiating mandate.
"I will not be impressed"
Michel Barnier promised to continue negotiations with the British "with respect, without participating in any controversy", alluding to the recent remarks of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Brandon Lewis. The latter claimed that there would be no border in the Irish Sea between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
Michel Barnier declared that he "would be very happy to meet him when he wants (...). He must read the withdrawal agreement so that he understands the commitments made ”. And to recall that the agreement "preserves the integrity of the British customs territory and includes Northern Ireland there, the control that we need to protect the internal market, consumers and businesses, and the absence of a hard border on the island of Ireland ". "We know that the situation is fragile (...). I'm not going to be impressed, ”he added. "The EU will honor its commitments and we expect the same from the United Kingdom," he continued.
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Brexit: EU 27 give green light to London negotiating mandate
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