Splits among 27 EU leaders emerge over Brexit trade deal with Britain
Countries' array of different interests mean the bloc is far from aligned on Phase Two of the negotiations
SPLITS began to emerge among EU leaders yesterday over how deep a Brexit trade deal to strike with Britain.
While the 27 bosses were rock solid in their demands for divorce terms from the UK, their countries’ array of different interests mean the bloc is far from aligned on Phase Two of the negotiations.
Confirming the divisions for the first time, Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar called for a broad deal that is “as much like the current arrangement as possible”.
But that’s in stark contrast to France and Germany, who want to severely limit Britain’s access to the single market unless it signs up to all of Brussels’ rules.
Calling for “a lot of thinking” about the future relationship, Mr Varadkar added: “There does seem to be quite divergent opinions on what that should look like.
“Needless to say, from an Irish point of view, we’d like it to look as much like the current arrangement as possible, but that wouldn’t necessarily be the view of everyone.”
The divisions were confirmed yesterday when the leaders announced at a summit in Brussels that they would need three months to agree a joint position.
Trade talks will not now begin until March, once a deal for a two year transition period form 2019 is wrapped up first.
France and Germany’s worried bosses both issued warnings for the EU’s unity not to unravel.
President Emmanuel Macron said: “There will be no separate agenda of bilateral talks with the UK.
“Sector by sector, the goal is to have by March conclusions which shall be very specific and which will provide for this second phase a very specific mandate again for Michel Barnier”.
Chancellor Angela Merkel added: “The most difficult phase obviously is ahead of us.
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“It’s very complicated, very complex and I know only when we stand together we will emerge from these negotiations strongly.
“If each and everyone wants to go his or her own way and plays to one’s own gallery, then we won’t come to a good and positive outcome from this.”
Chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier will organise a series of seminars with the 27 member states in the New Year to thrash out all their intentions.