Dinner date with Johnson has EU in tizz

Brussels, July 14: Boris Johnson’s shock appointment as Britain’s foreign secretary has given European counterparts an immediate diplomatic headache — over whether to have dinner with him on Sunday in Brussels.

EU diplomats said ministers had planned a quiet chat on post- Brexit relations with Mr Johnson’s predecessor, expecting Philip Hammond, who campaigned to stay in the EU in June 23 referendum, to reassure them on continued cooperation in crises such as Libya.

But those supper plans, proposed by EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini to precede a routine ministerial council she will chair on Monday, have been thrown into disarray by the sudden acceleration in the British political process and the appointment of controversial Brexit campaigner Mr Johnson.

Four EU and British sources said on Thursday it was unclear the dinner would go ahead and if so, who among Mr Johnson and the 27 other EU ministers would attend.

“The dinner and its timing is starting to look awkward,” one EU diplomat said. “It may yet be cancelled, although that is for Mogherini to decide.” Ms Mogherini’s office declined to comment.

A former Brussels journalist and mayor of London, Mr Johnson cultivates a clownish public image but also caused deep offence in the EU during the referendum campaign by comparing its aims to unify Europe to those of Adolf Hitler.