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Brussels baffled by Boris Johnson's Brexit progress claims Brussels baffled by Boris Johnson's Brexit progress claims
(32 minutes later)
Brussels has responded with bafflement at Boris Johnson’s claims of progress in the Brexit talks, with EU officials warning that discussions are going nowhere. Brussels has responded with bafflement to Boris Johnson’s claims that progress is being made in the Brexit talks, with EU officials saying discussions are going nowhere.
The prime minister and his cabinet have insisted that the outlines of a deal are in the making and that attempts by MPs to rule out a no-deal exit will kill that positive momentum. The prime minister and his cabinet have insisted that the outlines of a deal are in the making and that attempts by MPs to rule out a no-deal departure will kill that momentum.
But officials said that nearly two weeks after Johnson’s meeting with the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, no alternatives to the backstop had been tabled and that there had instead been a renewed clash over Brussels’ need for an immediately legally operable solution for Ireland. However, EU officials said that nearly two weeks after Johnson met the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, no alternatives to the Northern Irish backstop had been tabled. Instead, there had been a renewed clash over Brussels’ need for an immediately legally operable solution for the border.
Downing Street rejected the idea that it was not taking the talks seriously, with Johnson’s spokesman insisting progress was being made. However, he declined to say when the UK might present concrete proposals on a replacement for the backstop.Downing Street rejected the idea that it was not taking the talks seriously, with Johnson’s spokesman insisting progress was being made. However, he declined to say when the UK might present concrete proposals on a replacement for the backstop.
The Guardian understands that Johnson’s senior EU adviser, David Frost, has so far highlighted the legal articles relating to the trade in goods that the government wants removed from the Irish protocol in the withdrawal agreement. The Guardian understands Johnson’s senior EU adviser, David Frost, has so far highlighted the legal articles relating to the trade in goods that the government wants removed from the Irish protocol in the withdrawal agreement.
Frost has suggested that “maximum facilitation” technology could provide a solution to the problem of avoiding a hard border. The government insists that parliament will not accept a deal that would involve, even temporarily, the whole of the UK staying in a customs union and Northern Ireland remaining in the single market. Frost has suggested that “maximum facilitation” technology could provide a solution to the problem of avoiding a hard border. The government insists parliament will not accept a deal that would involve, even temporarily, the whole of the UK staying in a customs union and Northern Ireland remaining in the single market.
But EU sources said that the talks so far had offered little confidence that any proposals made by London would be close to acceptable to the European commission which wishes to ensure frictionless trade on the island of Ireland in all circumstances, and to maintain the all-Ireland economy as it is today. “Where have these people been for the last two years?” asked one EU official. EU sources said the talks so far had offered little confidence that any proposals made by London would be close to acceptable to the European commission, which wants to ensure frictionless trade on the island of Ireland in all circumstances, and to maintain the all-Ireland economy as it is today. “Where have these people been for the last two years?” asked one EU official.
Johnson’s adviser had been expected to table some proposals on paper on an alternative way forward on Wednesday but sources said they believed the prime minister would “conveniently” use the developments in Westminster to hold off. Johnson’s adviser had been expected to table some proposals on an alternative way forward on Wednesday but sources said they believed the prime minister would “conveniently” use the developments in Westminster to hold off.
“Frost has said that the government wants a simple Canada-style free trade deal which makes it all the more important to have the backstop maintaining the all-Ireland economy because that sort of free trade deal in the future will not go anywhere near to providing frictionless trade”, said an EU diplomat. “Frost has said that the government wants a simple Canada-style free trade deal which makes it all the more important to have the backstop maintaining the all-Ireland economy because that sort of free trade deal in the future will not go anywhere near to providing frictionless trade,” one EU diplomat said.
Downing Street on Tuesday denied claims that Johnson’s strategist, Dominic Cummings, has privately described the talks in Brussels as a “sham”, but EU officials are increasingly concerned that this is the case.Downing Street on Tuesday denied claims that Johnson’s strategist, Dominic Cummings, has privately described the talks in Brussels as a “sham”, but EU officials are increasingly concerned that this is the case.
The former chancellor Philip Hammond also told Radio 4’s Today programme that it was “nonsense” to suggest there had been any progress in Brussels, adding that the British government did not even have a negotiating team. The former chancellor Philip Hammond told Radio 4’s Today programme that it was “nonsense” to suggest there had been any progress in Brussels, adding that the British government did not even have a negotiating team.
Asked if No 10 was simply running down the clock before a no-deal exit on 31 October, Johnson’s spokesman said: “Absolutely not. You have public remarks from President Macron, Chancellor Merkel and from President Tusk. We were told very firmly at the beginning that there could be no discussions. Now EU leaders have said they are willing to work with us on trying to find solutions.”Asked if No 10 was simply running down the clock before a no-deal exit on 31 October, Johnson’s spokesman said: “Absolutely not. You have public remarks from President Macron, Chancellor Merkel and from President Tusk. We were told very firmly at the beginning that there could be no discussions. Now EU leaders have said they are willing to work with us on trying to find solutions.”
But asked when the UK could present ideas for replacing the backstop with so-called alternative arrangements, the spokesman declined to say, adding: “We’re having conversations with the EU all the time. David Frost will be having more conversations this week.” But asked when the UK might present ideas for replacing the backstop with “alternative arrangements”, the spokesman declined to say, adding: “We’re having conversations with the EU all the time. David Frost will be having more conversations this week.”
Johnson’s letter to the European council president, Donald Tusk – with its suggestion to replace the backstop with a promise to agree alternative arrangements later – has been seen by one Brussels insider as “we haven’t got any ideas, trust us”. A similar approach by Theresa May failed, as the EU insisted on a guaranteed fallback plan to manage the Irish border. Johnson’s letter to the European council president, Donald Tusk – with its suggestion to replace the backstop with a promise to agree alternative arrangements later – has been interpreted by one Brussels insider as saying: “We haven’t got any ideas, trust us”. A similar approach by Theresa May failed, as the EU insisted on a guaranteed fallback plan to manage the Irish border.
“This is a government that seems to be extremely comfortable with no deal,” one official said. “In that context it is normal to ask yourself what are they really going after. Are they serious and engaging in the content of what we are trying to achieve or are they trying to run down the clock?” “This is a government that seems to be extremely comfortable with no deal,” one official said. “In that context it is normal to ask yourself:” what are they really going after? Are they serious and engaging in the content of what we are trying to achieve or are they trying to run down the clock?”
EU insiders are sceptical that a solution that has eluded experts for two years can be devised in a few weeks. “Boris Johnson hasn’t tabled a concrete plan … but the British government tells us right now that it’s possible to find another solution and we say ‘OK perfect, great’,” said an EU diplomat. “The ball is in London’s court and it’s something Britain has to come forward with.” EU insiders are sceptical that a solution that has eluded experts for two years can be devised in a few weeks. “Boris Johnson hasn’t tabled a concrete plan … but the British government tells us right now that it’s possible to find another solution and we say ‘OK, perfect, great’,” said an EU diplomat. “The ball is in London’s court and it’s something Britain has to come forward with.”
A commission spokesman declined to comment on whether the current “technical talks” were yet to produce any results.A commission spokesman declined to comment on whether the current “technical talks” were yet to produce any results.
Brexit
Boris JohnsonBoris Johnson
European UnionEuropean Union
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