‘Bully’ Barnier in threat to UK over transitional deal
BRITAIN’S prospects of getting a Brexit ‘transition’ deal were thrown into question last night.
Brexit Secretary David Davis accused EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier of trying to bully the UK into accepting an unfair offer.
Mr Barnier said there were still ‘ substantial’ disagreements between the UK and Brussels over the form transitional arrangements should take.
But Mr Davis fired back, claiming that Brussels was trying to take advantage of the UK by imposing a so-called ‘punishment clause’ that will allow the EU to sanction the UK at will until 2020.
The public war of words will fuel concerns about the chance of reaching a transition deal amid mounting pressure on the Prime Minister from businesses who want to avoid a ‘cliff-edge’ split from Europe.
Mr Barnier also said the UK had to come up with ways to avoid re-introducing a ‘hard border’ with customs checks between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Mr Barnier told Theresa May her demands were unacceptable and that she had little option but to accept the EU’s proposal for the transition period. He said: ‘If these disagreements persist, the transition is not a given. Time is short, very short. We haven’t a minute to lose if we want to succeed.’
The two sides are trying to thrash out a transition deal, which Mrs May promised will be concluded by March. The Prime Minister is under mounting pressure from businesses to conclude an agreement which would keep the UK tied closely to the EU until the end of 2020.
But Downing Street was left furious this week after an EU negotiating document proposed a ‘punishment clause’ that would allow Brussels to impose sanctions on Britain during transition.
On Thursday Mr Davis accused the EU of being ‘unwise’ and using ‘frankly discourteous’ language.
But Mr Barnier claimed yesterday the EU’s position was ‘only logical’.
Separately, Bank of England deputy governor Ben Broadbent said the bulk of the financial system would be ‘robust’ if Britain leaves the EU with no deal.