Michel Barnier tears up Theresa May’s Brexit plan saying the EU ‘cannot and will not’ accept her customs proposals
In the clearest sign yet the PM’s white paper policy will be rejected by Brussels, their chief negotiator said the UK is never going to allowed to collect tariffs on its behalf
MICHEL Barnier has torn up Theresa May’s Brexit plan saying the EU “cannot and will not” accept her proposals for dealing with customs.
In the clearest sign yet the Prime Minister’s white paper policy will be rejected by Brussels, their chief negotiator said the UK is never going to allowed to collect tariffs on its behalf, a key plank of the Chequers compromise.
Mr Barnier issued his strongest rebuke of Mrs May’s offer at a joint press conference with the Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab this afternoon.
He said: "The UK wants to take back control of its money, law and borders, and we will respect that.
"But the EU also wants to keep control of its money, law and borders and the UK should respect that."
He said there remain "major issues to be discussed and questions to be answered" on the future EU/UK relationship, adding: "To be frank, we are not at the end of the road yet."
The Frenchman said UK proposals on security marked "a real step forward" and said he was "particularly pleased" with progress on foreign policy.
But he said: "In contrast, on our future economic relationship, it comes as no surprise that finding common ground between the EU27 and the UK is more difficult."
And he ripped up Mrs May’s suggestion to solve the deadlock on customs, saying: "The EU cannot and the EU will not delegate the application of its customs policy and rules and VAT and excises duty collection to a non-member who would not be subject to the EU's governance structures."
Mr Raab revealed he and Mr Barnier will meet again in mid-August and then hold weekly meetings to clear away obstacles in the way of a deal by October.
And in an indication that the UK is hoping for compromise from Brussels he said the Government had been studying previous occasions on which the EU was able to take an "innovative" approach.
The minister added: "Michel, we have work to do."
Earlier Dominic Raab had issued a rallying cry in promising to bring ";as much energy as I can" to the crunch talks.
The new Brexit Secretary was hoping to shift focus away from the escalating preparations for exiting without a deal.
He said he was travelling to the Belgian capital for the finale of the latest round of talks with the words of the public to “get on with it” ringing in his ears.
Writing in the , Mr Raab said: “We have a plan with ambition, the energy to deliver and we are working hard to resolve the outstanding issues with our EU friends.
“I trust that ambition, energy and pragmatism will be reciprocated.”
But he added: “We are striving for the best deal.
"But in case our ambition and energy are not matched, we are stepping up our preparation for no deal.”
It comes after the Prime Minister said yesterday the British public should take "reassurance and comfort" from Government plans to stockpile food and medicines for after we leave.
Mrs May said the Government is being "responsible and sensible" while still trying to get a good deal – adding it was right to “prepare for every eventuality".
Meanwhile the European Commission has told member states and firms to step up their own preparations for a "cliff edge" Brexit.
And today France's European affairs minister warned Britain would suffer more than the EU if no deal was reached.
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With echoes of the PM’s stance Nathalie Loiseau told BBC Radio 4's Today programme Brussels would prefer a no-deal scenario to a bad deal.
She claimed it would mean "traffic jams in Calais”, adding that: "We would all suffer."
The former boss of Waitrose and International Trade Minister Lord Price also warned a no-deal Brexit would push up the cost of fruit and veg, meat and dairy products because they could not be stockpiled.