IMPOSSIBLE!
We won’t give in to UK demands, says EU as Brexit stand-off rolls on
BREXIT talks hit stalemate yesterday as the EU blasted the UK’s “impossible” demands.
Europe’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, accused Brexit Secretary David Davis of failing to accept his obligations over Britain’s divorce bill.
Speaking at a press conference in Brussels, Mr Barnier accused the UK of “nostalgia”. He said no “decisive progress” had been made on the exit fee or citizens’ rights, and warned that trade talks set for October may not happen. But Mr Davis claimed “concrete progress” had been made.
And he told Mr Barnier: “Don’t confuse a belief in the free market for nostalgia.”
Speaking after the third round of talks, Mr Barnier said Britain’s plans for the single market were “impossible”.
He added: “You cannot be outside the single market and shape its order.” On the divorce bill, Mr Barnier said: “EU taxpayers should not pay as 27 for [ financial] obligations undertaken as 28. It’s clear the UK does not feel obliged to honour these obligations after departure.” He said of the October talks: “We are quite far from me [being] able to recommend to the European Council that it engage in discussions.” But Mr Davis stood firm on the divorce bill: “We have a duty to our taxpayers to interrogate it rigorously.” And he said they had reached a deal to allow existing healthcare arrangements for EU and UK citizens to continue.
But Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer, said: “After three rounds of negotiations, real progress should have been made.
“Instead, the two sides appear to be getting further apart. The risk of not reaching the October deadline is now very real, which increases the risk of leaving with no deal in March 2019 – the worst possible outcome.”
Meanwhile, in a move that will enrage Brexiteers, former Labour PM and staunch Remainer Tony Blair was also in Brussels yesterday, for a meeting with EU President JeanClaude Juncker. The pair kissed as Mr Blair arrived for a private discussion.
The CEO of Aston Martin, who flew to Japan with PM Theresa May, said yesterday that industry chiefs were “nervous” about Brexit. Andy Palmer, whose firm exports cars to 124 countries, said: “We’re all keen to know ultimately what Brexit means.”