Brussels admits it faces a crisis if we refuse Brexit bill
BrUSSeLS admitted yesterday that it faces an ‘explosive’ political crisis if the UK refuses to pay a multi-billion pound Brexit bill.
Michel Barnier, the eU’s chief Brexit negotiator, warned the fragile bloc could crumble if Britain resists demands for the settlement which, say analysts, has ballooned to around 100billion euros (£85billion).
His shock admission came as Brussels added more hard-line conditions to its aggressive negotiating stance.
The bloc called for eU citizens who arrive in the UK just a day before Brexit to be granted full residency rights which can later extend to their families.
it also demanded that millions of eU migrants in the UK should be governed by Brussels rules for decades to come – even if this means providing better benefits than Britons receive.
The bloc plans to increase the Brexit bill by more than £30billion than had previously been expected, it was revealed.
eU bosses have previously insisted that the demand for a ‘divorce’ payment is simply an attempt to force the UK to ‘set- tle the accounts’ and honour previous commitments.
However, Mr Barnier hinted at deeper concerns – that the loss of one of the eU’s biggest financial contributors could be hugely damaging to the bloc.
describing the payment as ‘incontestable’, he said: ‘imagine what would happen if this were not to take place.
‘We have to be rigorous in our approach to clearing these accounts. Otherwise the situation might be explosive if we have to stop programmes. can you imagine the political problems which might arise?’
His intervention reflects concerns that the withdrawal of Britain’s £8billion net annual contribution to the eU could scupper sensitive projects or leave other countries to pay.
Mr Barnier suggested stalemate could inflame the refugee crisis, pointing out that the UK contributes to the deal with Turkey which is restricting huge flows of migrants into europe.
The eU’s latest demands were rejected by Brexit Secretary david davis. He also dismissed threats from Brussels to use the issue to block a trade deal, insisting Britain will not pay a penny if talks collapse.
Pointing out that the figures emanating from Brussels continue to grow without explanation, Mr davis said: ‘We will not be paying 100billion euros.’
Asked what would happen if the UK leaves without a deal, the Brexit Secretary said: ‘in the walk-away circumstance, there is nothing to be paid.’
Following advice from Government lawyers that Britain is not obliged to pay a bill, Mr davis said the UK will only pay what is ‘correct in law’. The higher fig- ure from the eU came after influential states such as Germany and France called the UK’s liabilities to be widened.
Mr Barnier’s package of demands clash with the Prime Minister’s promise to end mass migration from europe. As well as offering residency rights to migrants’ families, they call for the UK to give those who left Britain many years ago an open offer to return.
The negotiating blueprint demands that the european court of Justice should preside over any problems relating to eU migrants, which flies in the face of Mrs May’s promise to end its jurisdiction in the UK.
She is determined to seal a deal on the contentious issue on rights to protect British citizens also living abroad, but the ambitious demands from Brussels could prove problematic.
current rules allow eU citizens who live here for five years to be allowed to claim residency.
calling for this right to be protected, the eU wants the fiveyear period to start at any stage before Brexit is finalised.
The blueprint also calls for the rights to extend to family members who accompany them or join them at any point before or after withdrawal.
Yesterday’s guidelines were published by the european commission, the eU’s executive arm, and will be signed off by ministers as a guide to negotiations.
‘An open offer to return’