The war of words between Brussels and the British Government intensified last night as Boris Johnson hit back at criticism of Brexit Secretary David Davis.
EU officials were accused of treating the UK ‘with contempt’ on Thursday after it emerged that European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker had suggested Mr Davis was lazy and unstable.
But yesterday, on a visit to Estonia, Mr Johnson called for EU leaders to ‘work together’ with the UK.
The Foreign Secretary played down rising tensions with the EU as he joined British troops on exercises in the eastern European state
The Foreign Secretary, who has a habit of grabbing military kit during photo opportunities, seemed to be relishing his experience in the tank. He even had his name emblazoned on the camouflage jacket
Asked if he was confident that Mr Davis would get a deal with the EU, the Foreign Secretary said: ‘Absolutely, with rock solid confidence.’ His comments came as the European Parliament’s chief negotiator, Guy Verhofstadt, sparked uproar by accusing Britain of ‘poisoning’ relations between the two sides with its post-Brexit immigration plans.
Minutes of a private meeting suggested Mr Juncker had told colleagues that Mr Davis was unstable and wasn’t taking the negotiations seriously.
It sparked fury among Tory MPs who said the EU was treating Britain with ‘contempt’. But Mr Verhofstadt blamed the UK for ill-will. He said Home Office post-Brexit immigration plans, which were leaked this week, had ‘poisoned the diplomatic well’.
Detailed plans for how Britain will manage its borders after Brexit emerged on Tuesday. They suggested ministers will take a tough line on migration.
Low-skilled migrants could be forced to leave after two years as part of efforts to slash net migration, the proposals said.
Last night Tory MP Peter Bone said Mr Verhofstadt’s comments ‘don’t make sense’. He added: ‘There is good will from the British side, but there is an EU elite who are out of touch with both their own countries and the UK.’
Speaking to reporters in the Estonian capital Tallinn, Mr Johnson was upbeat about the outcome of talks. He insisted that finding a solution for the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic after Brexit is ‘not beyond the wit of man’.
The EU parliamentary’s chief negotiator Guy Verhofstadt ramped up the rhetoric again today
Mr Johnson pulled the helmet down firmly on his head before the tank started moving
The Russian embassy took to Twitter to ridicule Mr Johnson for his photo op, saying his Moscow counterpart Sergei Lavrov did not need to carry out such stunts
On Thursday Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, said he was worried by Britain’s plans for the border arrangement with Ireland and asked London to come up with ‘creative proposals’.
But Mr Johnson said: ‘I think we can all work together to come up with a solution on that one. It is not beyond the wit of man. We’ve had a common travel area between the North and the South of Ireland for getting on for a century and we’re going to continue to make that work.’
Mr Johnson also reiterated London’s stance – firmly rejected by the EU – that the divorce talks should run alongside discussion about the post-Brexit relationship between the two sides.
The bloc wants to solve key exit issues before opening talks about any future trade cooperation with Britain. Mr Johnson disagreed, saying the legal clause for leaving the EU – Article 50 – did mention taking into account a future relationship with the departing country.
Mr Johnson waved for the cameras as the Challenger tank sped over fields and through a wood
‘Article 50 makes it very clear that the discussion about the exit of a country must be taken in context with discussion of the future arrangements. And that’s what we’re going to do,’ he said.
He also dismissed Brussels’ stance that trade terms can only be considered after the divorce terms are settled.
‘Article 50 makes it very clear that the discussion about the exit of a country must be taken in context with discussion of the future arrangements. And that’s what we’re going to do,’ he said.
Referring to the question of the Irish border, Mr Johnson said: ‘I think we can all work together to come up with a solution on that one. It is not beyond the wit of man.
‘We’ve had a common travel area between the north and the south of Ireland for getting on for a century and we’re going to continue to make that work.’
Mr Johnson took the helm of a tank and met an unlikely doppleganger in the form of an army sniper during his visit to Estonia today.
The Foreign Secretary went for a ride in a British Challenger tank wearing army fatigues over his suit and tie.
And he appeared to see the funny side when he came face to face with a soldier whose camouflage gear bore an uncanny resemblance to his own famously tousled locks.
UK troops are in Estonia as part of a major Nato mission in the Baltic states to deter Russian aggression.
The records revealed Mr Juncker, who has been forced to publicly deny claims he is an alcoholic, slammed Britain’s chief negotiator at a meeting in July with Michel Barnier, the EU’s representative in the talks.
Mr Barnier today tried to play down the reports at a press conference minutes after the shocking comments were made public for the first time.
Mr Davis has faced criticism for not attending every day of the face-to-face negotiating sessions.
Last week he returned to London on Monday night following a brief welcome and returned on Thursday for a press conference.
Mr Juncker’s comments emerged as Mr Barnier released a raft of new papers setting out the EU’s negotiating position on sensitive issues including the future of the Irish border, customs arrangements, intellectual property rights, public procurement and data protection.