The EU’s chief negotiator tried to pile the pressure on Theresa May today by demanding Britain come up with its Brexit proposals ‘as soon as next week’.
Michel Barnier said ‘time is of the essence’ and warned there is ‘only one year left’ to thrash out a deal which secures an agreement on withdrawal and a transition phase.
He said ‘major uncertainty’ remains over the key issues of the divorce bill citizens rights and the Irish border and blamed Britain failing to come up with a plan.
He also warned that Britain would not be able to enjoy all the benefits of being a member of the single market without paying into the EU budget.
And on the Brexit divorce bill, Mr Barnier said the UK must ‘settle the accounts’ before proper talks on a trade deal can start.
The Eurocrat turned up the heat on the Prime Minister just a day before she is due to give her flagship speech on Brexit in Florence tomorrow.
Addressing the Italian Parliament in Rome – less than 200 miles away from where Mrs May will deliver her speech in Gothic church tomorrow – he laid the blame for the negotiation’s lack of progress at British feet.
He said an agreement would be best for everyone, before adding: ‘But if we want a deal, time is of the essence.
Michel Barnier, pictured in Brussels this month, has been setting out a tough stance in private meetings with officials from member states
Mr Barnier (right) has been engaged in tough negotiations with Brexit Secretary David Davis. Addressing Italy’s Parliament today, he told Britain to put forwards its Brexit proposals by next weeks warning that ‘time is of the essence’
The European Parliament’s chief negotiator Guy Verhofstadt (pictured, left, today at the Irish Parliament in Dublin) tore into Boris Johnson (pictured, right, today heading into No 10) for saying that pro-EU Brits have ‘split allegiances’
‘The Treaty on European Union foresees a period of two years to negotiate withdrawal.
‘Six months have gone by since Theresa May’s letter on 29 March 2017. Six months will be necessary to allow for ratification before 29 March 2019.
‘There is therefore only one year left.’
And he talked tough on trade – warning that the UK will not be able to have the benefits of single market membership without pouring cash into the coffers at Brussels.
VERHOFSTADT SLAMS BORIS OVER ‘SPLIT ALLEGIANCES’
European Parliament Brexit chief Guy Verhofstadt, pictured at a farm on the Irish border yesterday, tore into Boris Johnson over his claims pro-EU Brits have split allegiances
Guy Verhoftsadt today hit out at Boris Johnson for saying Brits who are pro-EU have ‘split allegiances’.
The Foreign Secretary used his explosive 4,000 word article on Brexit to tell of his concern at the sight of fervent pro-EU supporters
He said: ‘I look at so many young people with the 12 stars lipsticked to their faces, and I am troubled with the thought that people are beginning to have genuinely split allegiances.’
But addressing the Irish Parliament today, Mr Verhoftsadt branded the remarks ‘nonsense’.
The European Parliament’s Brexit negotiator said: ‘I note that some British politicians, not to name Boris Johnson, criticise their countrymen and women for wanting to keep their European identity.
‘He accused them even of split allegiance.
‘I think that is a binary, old fashioned and reductionist understanding of identity.’
He said it is not someone’s nationality that makes them a good or bad citizen.
‘No, it’s the fact that you embrace the values of your community,’he said.
‘I think it’s nonsense to talk about split allegiance.
‘It’s perfectly possible, I think – I never practice it – but to feel English, British and European at the same time.
‘And I think it is perfectly normal to be a Dubliner, Irish and European … without being schizophrenic about split allegiance.’
Mr Barrier said: ‘Naturally, if the United Kingdom wanted to go further than the type of free trade agreement we have just signed with Canada, there are other models on the table.
For example, Norway and Iceland have chosen to be in the single market, to accept the rules, and to contribute financially to cohesion policy.
‘But one thing is sure: it is not – and will not – be possible for a third country to have the same benefits as the Norwegian model but the limited obligations of the Canadian model.
‘And naturally, any agreement must respect the regulatory autonomy of the EU, as well as the integrity of its legal order.’
He stressed the transition period will be ‘short’ and suggested the UK will have to abide by EU laws and European Court of Justice during it.
Mr Barnier said: ‘I would like to be very clear, if we are to extend for a limited period the acquis of the EU, with all its benefits, then logically this would require existing Union regulatory, budgetary, supervisory, judiciary and enforcement instruments and structures to apply.’
It comes after reports he said it would take ‘years’ to negotiate a post-Brexit deal after the ‘unpleasant and costly’ divorce process is complete.
Michel Barnier has been setting out a tough stance in private meetings with officials from member states.
He is said to have dismissed the prospect of a ‘bespoke’ trade deal, and again insisted Britain must pay up.
The hard line will fuel fears that Mr Barnier is not willing to treat Britain fairly in the talks.
Theresa May is hoping to go over his head and that of EU commission president Jean-Claude Juncker tomorrow when she delivers a crucial speech in Florence.
In a message to aimed at leaders of member states, Mrs May is expected to offer to fill the gaping hole in the bloc’s finances left by the UK’s departure with £20billion of funding until the end of 2020.
But the run-up to the speech has been overshadowed by manoeuvring by different Brexit factions within the Cabinet.
Mrs May’s former chief of staff lashed out at Boris Johnson and Philip Hammond today for putting negotiations at risk with pointless ‘games’.
Nick Timothy also complained that the Treasury is talking down the UK’s prospects by failing to consider the ‘positives’ of cutting ties with Brussels.
According to Politico, Mr Barnier has been telling delegations of officials at Brussels briefings that he remained convinced the divorce will be ‘painful, not pleasant, and costly’.
Reiterating that there can be no trade discussions until the UK signs up to a large divorce bill, Mr Barnier reportedly tells audiences: ‘How do you build a future relationship if there’s no trust, if you haven’t honored your commitments?’
Rejecting the idea of a bespoke trade deal, he says the EU is ‘not going to mix up models’ – suggesting that future arrangements with Britain must be based on existing ones with countries like Turkey and Norway.
He is also said to stress that working through a trade deal will take many years.
Theresa May and Boris Johnson finally went face to face in public last night after an extraordinary row which saw the Foreign Secretary threaten to quit