Post-Brexit: EU prepares for lack of agreement

EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels on February 25, 2020. REUTERS / Fran? Ois Walschaerts

Text by: Pierre Benazet

The Europeans formally adopted on Tuesday the negotiating mandate entrusted to Michel Barnier for the future Euro-British relationship from January 1, 2021. The United Kingdom did the same and published this Thursday its own negotiating mandate letting the threat loom to withdraw from negotiations if in June they did not appear to be going in the right direction.

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From our correspondent in Brussels,

For Europeans, the June deadline is not in itself a problem, it is for them the best time to make a mid-term evaluation of the talks.

The EU says it is ready to negotiate in good faith a close relationship with the United Kingdom, but Europeans admit to preparing for the prospect of seeing the British government prefer a complete break.

" The Commission is carefully preparing to be useful to citizens and businesses for the scenario of a Brexit without agreement," explains Dana Spinant, spokesperson for the European Commission. It would be premature to speculate on the outcome of these negotiations that we will start on Monday and especially to anticipate an outcome without agreement. However, the committee also stands ready if there is no agreement at the end of these negotiations. "

For Europeans, London's threats are not a surprise. First, because since Boris Johnson's wide victory many here have predicted that he will choose a very ideological position. Then, the threat of slamming the door is seen as a strategy to force the hand to the EU, because the United Kingdom does not have cards to negotiate in a position of strength.

► Read also: A Brexit without agreement could cost the British 32 billion exports

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  • Brexit
  • UK
  • European Union

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