EU vendetta claim on pet travel axe
BREXIT campaigners accused the EU of waging a “vendetta” against Britain after it threatened to ban holidaymakers from taking their pets to the continent if negotiations collapse.
Brussels’ chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier raised the prospect of “pet passports” being suspended.
In a magazine, Mr Barnier warned that a breakdown in talks could affect the ability of “dogs and cats to cross the Channel”.
His claim was condemned as “silly” and a sign of the EU’s “vendetta” against the UK.
Mr Barnier’s remarks to Le Journal du Dimanche came after his latest negotiations with EU Exit Secretary David Davis in Brussels last week. He warned that agreements over travel between the UK and EU would be strained if there was no Brexit deal.
The pet passport scheme, which certifies that animals have been vaccinated against rabies, is among regulations that could be suspended.
Mr Barnier said: “It would fall into the common law regime of the World Trade Organisation, with relations similar to those we have with China. A failure of the negotiations would have consequences on multiple domains, on the ability of British planes to land in Europe, the United Kingdom leaving the single sky [air traffic management system], or on dogs and cats to cross the Channel.”
But Tory MP Andrew Rosindell said: “Surely our beloved dogs and cats are not going to be victims of the Brussels vendetta against Britain?”
Backbencher Jacob-Rees Mogg said: “It’s really very silly. The worry has always been of rabid animals coming from the continent. I’m all for keeping rabid Eurocrats out of the UK.”
Richard Tice, co-chairman of Leave Means Leave, said: “Threatening to ban man’s best friend is a new low, even for Michel Barnier. It is becoming increasingly difficult for the UK to negotiate with the erratic EU.”