- Martin Selmayr and Michel Barnier are said to be at loggerheads over Brexit
- Senior staf both report directly to Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker
- The row will interest negotiators in London who are working on a Brexit deal
Splits emerged in Brussels today amid reports of a battle for control between Jean-Claude Juncker’s top aide and his Brexit negotiator.
Martin Selmayr and Michel Barnier are said to be at loggerheads over how to approach the Brexit talks.
Mr Juncker’s chief of staff enjoys a tight control of activities across the Commission – except on Brexit where Mr Barnier enjoys broad control.
Mr Selmayr was blamed in the UK for an incendiary leak of a crucial dinner between Theresa May and Mr Juncker ahead of last week’s summit.
He denied the claim but it fuelled suspicion in Whitehall the German lawyer is determined to secure a punishing Brexit deal over and above Mr Barnier’s intent for a more equitable final arrangement.
Martin Selmayr (right) and Michel Barnier (left) are said to be at loggerheads over how to approach the Brexit talks
Splits emerged in Brussels today amid reports of a battle for control between the top aide to Jean-Claude Juncker (pictured in the EU Parliament this week) and his Brexit negotiator
The two officials have history. Mr Selmayr masterminded the victory of Mr Juncker in the race to be EU Commission President, beating Mr Barnier.
Rumours have swirled in Brussels since that Mr Selmayr was unhappy with Mr Barnier being appointed to negotiate the Brexit deal.
EU diplomats have told Politico that Mr Selmayr tried and failed to remove reference to the ‘Union negotiator’ and replace them with the ‘Commission’ in draft conclusions at last week’s summit.
The symbolic change was seen in Brussels as an attempted power grab by Mr Selmayr.
Mr Selmayr was blamed in the UK for an incendiary leak of a crucial dinner (pictured wrapping up last week) between Theresa May and Mr Juncker ahead of last week’s summit.
An official told the website ‘Look, Selmayr is interfering in everything,’ before insisting it was not a case of undermining Mr Barnier.
They added: ‘Last week was a ‘Juncker week’ on Brexit due to the dinner and the [European Council meeting], accompanied by Selmayr doing media work on it.
‘Beside this I don’t see anything.’
A Commission spokeswoman dismissed the claims.
‘This is wishful thinking by those who don’t want the negotiations to succeed,’ spokeswoman Mina Andreeva said.
‘Martin Selmayr and Michel Barnier are an excellent team and both work loyally for the president and the institution as a whole.’