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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/sep/06/eu-attacks-on-chequers-plan-confused-claim-uk-brexit-negotiators
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| EU attacks on Chequers plan confused, claim UK Brexit negotiators | EU attacks on Chequers plan confused, claim UK Brexit negotiators |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| British negotiators have hit back in their talks with the EU against Michel Barnier’s criticisms of the Downing Street offer of a single market-style deal on goods, claiming that Brussels’ attacks are without merit and confused.The EU’s chief negotiator has in recent weeks warned that the British proposals are a threat not only to the internal market but the very existence of the EU project, as British businesses would be able to undercut their competitors on the continent. The controversy raged as Dominic Raab, the Brexit secretary, undertook two hours of talks with his EU counterpart. | British negotiators have hit back in their talks with the EU against Michel Barnier’s criticisms of the Downing Street offer of a single market-style deal on goods, claiming that Brussels’ attacks are without merit and confused.The EU’s chief negotiator has in recent weeks warned that the British proposals are a threat not only to the internal market but the very existence of the EU project, as British businesses would be able to undercut their competitors on the continent. The controversy raged as Dominic Raab, the Brexit secretary, undertook two hours of talks with his EU counterpart. |
| While the European commission’s spokesman has thrown into doubt claims that Barnier described the proposals as being “dead” during a meeting with British MPs this week, officials have privately described Theresa May’s plan as a “zombie white paper”. | While the European commission’s spokesman has thrown into doubt claims that Barnier described the proposals as being “dead” during a meeting with British MPs this week, officials have privately described Theresa May’s plan as a “zombie white paper”. |
| It is understood that while UK officials in the most recent talks pushed back on the European commission’s criticism, Raab’s one-on-one meeting with Barnier was constructive, with the cabinet minister later tweeting that talks had been “positive and focused on a forward-looking partnership”. | It is understood that while UK officials in the most recent talks pushed back on the European commission’s criticism, Raab’s one-on-one meeting with Barnier was constructive, with the cabinet minister later tweeting that talks had been “positive and focused on a forward-looking partnership”. |
| Under the plan hammered out at the prime minister’s Chequers retreat, the UK wants a common rule book on the standards in goods to allow frictionless trade but not in services. Barnier has said this would be a recipe for UK companies to gain a competitive advantage. | Under the plan hammered out at the prime minister’s Chequers retreat, the UK wants a common rule book on the standards in goods to allow frictionless trade but not in services. Barnier has said this would be a recipe for UK companies to gain a competitive advantage. |
| In the case of Rolls Royce in the civil aerospace sector, for example, 48% of the company’s revenue in 2017 was generated by goods, but 52% was generated by after-sales services such as maintenance contracts on aircraft engines. | In the case of Rolls Royce in the civil aerospace sector, for example, 48% of the company’s revenue in 2017 was generated by goods, but 52% was generated by after-sales services such as maintenance contracts on aircraft engines. |
| Barnier has argued that even in a pint of milk, services ranging from money lending to farming and the provision of rented equipment goes into making the final product, and that if the UK did not live up to EU standards on the provision of financial services, for example, British goods could end up being cheaper than the rest on the market. | Barnier has argued that even in a pint of milk, services ranging from money lending to farming and the provision of rented equipment goes into making the final product, and that if the UK did not live up to EU standards on the provision of financial services, for example, British goods could end up being cheaper than the rest on the market. |
| Noisiest in their opposition are Tory Brexiters, not least David Davis and Boris Johnson, both of whom quit the cabinet in protest. They argue that the promise to maintain a common rulebook for goods and other continued alignment will mean a post-Brexit UK is tied to the EU without having a say on future rules, rather than being a free-trading independent nation. | Noisiest in their opposition are Tory Brexiters, not least David Davis and Boris Johnson, both of whom quit the cabinet in protest. They argue that the promise to maintain a common rulebook for goods and other continued alignment will mean a post-Brexit UK is tied to the EU without having a say on future rules, rather than being a free-trading independent nation. |
| Labour has also disparaged the proposal, expressing deep scepticism about the so-called facilitated customs arrangement system. | Labour has also disparaged the proposal, expressing deep scepticism about the so-called facilitated customs arrangement system. |
| Brussels has sought to stay positive, but has deep concerns about elements of the plan viewed as overly pick-and-mix, and thus potentially incompatible with EU principles. | Brussels has sought to stay positive, but has deep concerns about elements of the plan viewed as overly pick-and-mix, and thus potentially incompatible with EU principles. |
| Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, says he opposes both the customs plan and the idea of alignment for goods. He also makes plain his contention that the Chequers plan contains no workable idea for the Ireland-Northern Ireland border. | Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, says he opposes both the customs plan and the idea of alignment for goods. He also makes plain his contention that the Chequers plan contains no workable idea for the Ireland-Northern Ireland border. |
| But at the same time the EU has been careful to not entirely dismiss the proposals, raising the possibility it could accept some adapted version. | But at the same time the EU has been careful to not entirely dismiss the proposals, raising the possibility it could accept some adapted version. |
| Officially, May and her cabinet, though even here the backing can seem lukewarm at times. Asked about Chequers, the home secretary, Sajid Javid, said it was the government’s plan “right now”, indicating alternative ideas could be considered. | Officially, May and her cabinet, though even here the backing can seem lukewarm at times. Asked about Chequers, the home secretary, Sajid Javid, said it was the government’s plan “right now”, indicating alternative ideas could be considered. |
| Even May’s allies concede it will be a hugely difficult task to get the plan through parliament. Damian Green, the PM’s close friend and former de fact deputy, described the process as “walking a narrow path with people chucking rocks at us from both sides”. | Even May’s allies concede it will be a hugely difficult task to get the plan through parliament. Damian Green, the PM’s close friend and former de fact deputy, described the process as “walking a narrow path with people chucking rocks at us from both sides”. |
| On the remain side of the Conservatives, the former education secretary Justine Greening called the Chequers plan “more unpopular than the poll tax”, saying May should start again from scratch. | On the remain side of the Conservatives, the former education secretary Justine Greening called the Chequers plan “more unpopular than the poll tax”, saying May should start again from scratch. |
| If anything can save the plan – and it’s an outside shot – it will be a combination of the hugely tight timetable and the fact that, as yet, no one else has yet produced a plan with a better chance of being accepted by parliament. | If anything can save the plan – and it’s an outside shot – it will be a combination of the hugely tight timetable and the fact that, as yet, no one else has yet produced a plan with a better chance of being accepted by parliament. |
| On 20 September, an informal gathering in Salzburg, Austria, will provide a snapshot of current EU thinking. Then, 10 days later, the Conservative conference could show the Chequers plan is holed below the waterline. | On 20 September, an informal gathering in Salzburg, Austria, will provide a snapshot of current EU thinking. Then, 10 days later, the Conservative conference could show the Chequers plan is holed below the waterline. |
| If it survives these tests, the proposals will then reach the crucial EU summit Brussels on 18 October, with something final needed, at the very latest, in the next two months. PETER WALKER | If it survives these tests, the proposals will then reach the crucial EU summit Brussels on 18 October, with something final needed, at the very latest, in the next two months. PETER WALKER |
| During discussions in the European commission headquarters this week, UK officials argued in response that there are no common standards on services in the EU as it stands, and that Brussels should deal in the facts on the ground. | During discussions in the European commission headquarters this week, UK officials argued in response that there are no common standards on services in the EU as it stands, and that Brussels should deal in the facts on the ground. |
| They further countered that goods sold into Europe, including those that are packaged up with the provision of a service, will have to meet the standards of the member states. | They further countered that goods sold into Europe, including those that are packaged up with the provision of a service, will have to meet the standards of the member states. |
| The British negotiators pointed out that the UK is willing to keep in lock-step with the EU on state aid rules, preventing a future British government from picking winners in industry. Britain will further commit to not allowing environmental and labour standards to slip. | The British negotiators pointed out that the UK is willing to keep in lock-step with the EU on state aid rules, preventing a future British government from picking winners in industry. Britain will further commit to not allowing environmental and labour standards to slip. |
| The latest clash in the talks came as Hans-Olaf Henkel, a former president of the Federation of German Industries (BDI), attacked Brussels for a negotiating stance that he said would damage economies on both sides of the English channel. | The latest clash in the talks came as Hans-Olaf Henkel, a former president of the Federation of German Industries (BDI), attacked Brussels for a negotiating stance that he said would damage economies on both sides of the English channel. |
| Henkel, also formerly head of IBM Europe, and who is now an MEP in the same group as the Conservative party, called for German business leaders to speak up for their economic interests and back May’s Chequers plan. | Henkel, also formerly head of IBM Europe, and who is now an MEP in the same group as the Conservative party, called for German business leaders to speak up for their economic interests and back May’s Chequers plan. |
| Henkel said that chief executives should say publicly what they had told him in private and lobby Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, to soften her approach. “A good deal for British industry is a good deal for European industry,” Henkel said. “Mr Barnier’s rigidity will damage our own interests. The single market is our biggest asset but a hard Brexit for Britain will hugely damage us. It is equivalent to 19 small EU states leaving and we should be more flexible.” | Henkel said that chief executives should say publicly what they had told him in private and lobby Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, to soften her approach. “A good deal for British industry is a good deal for European industry,” Henkel said. “Mr Barnier’s rigidity will damage our own interests. The single market is our biggest asset but a hard Brexit for Britain will hugely damage us. It is equivalent to 19 small EU states leaving and we should be more flexible.” |
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