'No whistling, just ticking': EU pushes on Brexit talks

[webfact]

'No whistling, just ticking': EU pushes on Brexit talks

By Alastair Macdonald and Robert-Jan Bartunek

 

An EU flag flies above Parliament Square during a Unite for Europe march, in London, Britain March 25, 2017. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls/Files

 

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The EU's negotiator pressed Britain on Wednesday to offer more post-Brexit rights to European expats and accept it will pay a hefty sum on leaving if it wants a quick start to talks on a future trading relationship.

 

Michel Barnier, who holds a first full round of talks next week, betrayed impatience with London during a Brussels news conference. Britain had yet to respond to detailed proposals from him on many issues, he said, and had fallen short on what it has offered on citizens' rights, as well as on what it owes.

 

Asked his view on Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson's remark on Tuesday that Brussels could "go whistle" if it thought Britain would pay what Johnson called "extortionate" demands, Barnier showed no desire to join in any cross-Channel banter:

 

"I'm not hearing any whistling, just the clock ticking," the Frenchman said, echoing his refrain of the past year that time is tight to conclude terms for an exit in March 2019 that can limit disruption for businesses and millions of people.

 

Barnier said he wants detailed proposals from the British next week to match those made by the EU on issues they want settled in a withdrawal treaty.

 

These include the rights of expats left on either side of a new EU-UK border, a methodology for calculating how much Britain will owe to cover commitments to the EU and how to manage the new border, notably on Ireland.

 

Only if there is progress on all three of these would EU leaders agree to open negotiations on a future free trade deal.

 

For now, however, 3 million Europeans in Britain would have fewer rights under London's proposal than Britons on the continent, notably in the matter of being able to bring in relatives, he said. And those rights in Britain would not be guaranteed by the treaty or ultimately by the EU's judges in Luxembourg.

 

NEGOTIATING POSITIONS

 

Even some EU governments concede that the demand for much of the relations between Britain and the bloc to be under ultimate scrutiny by the European Court of Justice - anathema to many of those who voted for Brexit a year ago - is a "maximalist" position and may have to be moderated in negotiations.

 

An early indication of how far apart the two sides really are will come from Monday, when British officials are due in Brussels for the first of four, week-long, monthly rounds of negotiations which they hope can show enough progress to see EU leaders agree at a summit in mid-October to open trade talks.

 

Barnier urged London to be clear on its willingness to pay a bill, which the EU executive have put at potentially 60 billion euros ($70 billion), if it wants to win the Union's trust.

 

He dismissed suggestions from Brexit supporters that the EU was holding Britain to "ransom" and stressed that he was open to negotiating the amount "line by line" but first the British had clearly to take responsibility for their share of EU budgets.

 

"I cannot imagine that a very great country like the United Kingdom is not a country that takes responsibility," he said.

 

In a sign of the domestic dramas that have delayed Britain's response, three leaders will separately see Barnier on Thursday: the first ministers of Wales, which backed Brexit, and Scotland, which did not, as well as opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn.

 

With May hobbled by losses in a miscued snap election last month, Corbyn's Labour party and the devolved governments are pushing her to modify herBrexit plans - though Barnier stressed he would only be negotiating with British ministers.

 

(Additional reporting by Francesco Guarascio and Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Andrew Roche)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-07-13

[Retiredandhappyhere]

So now it has come down to the UK having to pay 60 billion Euros "to win the EU's trust".   Perhaps Boris Johnson's "go whistle!" comment was in fact quite appropriate.  

 

It might also be a good idea for Barnier to stop giving the UK deadlines in which to do things, like he "wants detailed proposals from the British NEXT WEEK".  Cue Boris again.

[dunroaming]

I think Barnier is frustrated by the lack of action from the UK and that ridiculous comment from Johnson will just make him dig his heels in.  It is profoundly stupid of Johnson to say anything publicly when the UK has to sit down at the negotiating table and try to work out a fair deal for both sides.  At the moment Britain needs to respond to the EU's proposals to get the dialogue started and clearly they are reluctant to do that.

[the guest]

46 minutes ago, Retiredandhappyhere said:

So now it has come down to the UK having to pay 60 billion Euros "to win the EU's trust".   Perhaps Boris Johnson's "go whistle!" comment was in fact quite appropriate.  

 

It might also be a good idea for Barnier to stop giving the UK deadlines in which to do things, like he "wants detailed proposals from the British NEXT WEEK".  Cue Boris again.

Really, you think EU are going to be impressed with 'Doris' the Boris, and his foul and again untimely undiplomatic mouth? I'd wish he'd put a sock in it. He's an embarrassment to this country, and not suited to be in the house of commons. The UK has a huge problem, and they seemingly have a prime minister that is weak, and a team unable to negotiate or engage with the EU in a realistic manner. 

 

When many of my European colleagues ask, what happened to the UK? I say to them the country has committed suicide!

[Baerboxer]

48 minutes ago, Retiredandhappyhere said:

So now it has come down to the UK having to pay 60 billion Euros "to win the EU's trust".   Perhaps Boris Johnson's "go whistle!" comment was in fact quite appropriate.  

 

It might also be a good idea for Barnier to stop giving the UK deadlines in which to do things, like he "wants detailed proposals from the British NEXT WEEK".  Cue Boris again.

 

Of course, he's an arrogant bully chosen specifically for those traits.

 

Old negotiating trick - make the other side think you are the one calling all the shots, making the rules, setting timescales, giving them tasks and deadlines etc. And if they're daft enough to swallow it, then walk all over them.

 

Davies is a never was, never has-been numptie. Out of his depth, his intelligence and his ability. May or whoever is in control needs to get someone in their quick who can fight fire with fire.

[dunroaming]

It really is hard to see how the UK can come out of Brexit with anything approaching an acceptable deal.  The negotiators are just not up to the job and the bruised and weakened May looks and sounds like a drowning woman scrabbling for a lifebelt in choppy waters.  So at the moment it looks like everyone is a loser.  The Brexit voters are not going to get what they thought they were voting for and the remainers will (unfortunately) be justified in their fears over the cost of the divorce.

 

The only way to stop the rot is a second referendum when the people (now that they can see the reality of Brexit) can have the opportunity to vote again.  If the Brexiteers are confident that the decision to leave would be carried again, as they say, then what are they scared of?

[ilostmypassword]

38 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Of course, he's an arrogant bully chosen specifically for those traits.

 

Old negotiating trick - make the other side think you are the one calling all the shots, making the rules, setting timescales, giving them tasks and deadlines etc. And if they're daft enough to swallow it, then walk all over them.

 

Davies is a never was, never has-been numptie. Out of his depth, his intelligence and his ability. May or whoever is in control needs to get someone in their quick who can fight fire with fire.

Of course, you've got to have enough fire for that to work.

[ilostmypassword]

14 minutes ago, dunroaming said:

It really is hard to see how the UK can come out of Brexit with anything approaching an acceptable deal.  The negotiators are just not up to the job and the bruised and weakened May looks and sounds like a drowning woman scrabbling for a lifebelt in choppy waters.  So at the moment it looks like everyone is a loser.  The Brexit voters are not going to get what they thought they were voting for and the remainers will (unfortunately) be justified in their fears over the cost of the divorce.

 

The only way to stop the rot is a second referendum when the people (now that they can see the reality of Brexit) can have the opportunity to vote again.  If the Brexiteers are confident that the decision to leave would be carried again, as they say, then what are they scared of?

I think now is not the time. Wait until the deadline gets nearer and then see how the electorate feels about Brexit.

[jesimps]

23 minutes ago, dunroaming said:

It really is hard to see how the UK can come out of Brexit with anything approaching an acceptable deal.  The negotiators are just not up to the job and the bruised and weakened May looks and sounds like a drowning woman scrabbling for a lifebelt in choppy waters.  So at the moment it looks like everyone is a loser.  The Brexit voters are not going to get what they thought they were voting for and the remainers will (unfortunately) be justified in their fears over the cost of the divorce.

 

The only way to stop the rot is a second referendum when the people (now that they can see the reality of Brexit) can have the opportunity to vote again.  If the Brexiteers are confident that the decision to leave would be carried again, as they say, then what are they scared of?

We're leaving as per the referendum. Why on earth have another vote? You remainers do enjoy clutching at straws.

[ilostmypassword]

Just now, jesimps said:

We're leaving as per the referendum. Why on earth have another vote? You remainers do enjoy clutching at straws.

Because the UK is a parliamentary democracy. And if enough citizens can persuade enough of their MP's to agree, then it will happen.

And if that explanation doesn't satisfy you how about this one: Where is it written that democracy means you can't change your mind?

[dunroaming]

2 minutes ago, jesimps said:

We're leaving as per the referendum. Why on earth have another vote? You remainers do enjoy clutching at straws.

So you think everything is going to plan then?  You are happy with what you are hearing and don't feel that you voted based on promises that now (it is clear to see) will never be met.  You know very well that if there was another referendum Brexit would be massively overturned but you would rather go for the worse off and lower quality of life option.  We may be clutching at straws  but at least we aren't prepared to accept the inevitable "bad deal" without a fight

[George FmplesdaCosteedback]

The EU budget which the UK was involved in ends in 2020 if I am not seriously misled. Anything more for expenditure after that date is where the EU are indeed whistling in a strong wind.

Forget the ECJ, they are making the overseas citizens an excuse to keep EU control of British laws, and don't forget they have three times as many living in Briton if they all have to go home...

A lot of very brash words and bravado from Barnier, we need to show we can stand up to european bullying (they have short memories or strange history books) and Boris is not scared to tell them when they overstep the mark with ludicrous claims.

They are pretending they don't need a trade deal when everyone can see the elephant in the room - UK buys more from the EU than the other way round, so who stands to lose? The drop in the value of the pound will almost completely off-set the import duties we sell them under the WTO rules.

Wake up Mr Barnier and smell the strong tea brewing...