Brussels lashes out at Boris Johnson’s ‘unacceptable’ Brexit plans as EU talks tough
MICHEL Barnier today branded Boris Johnson's pledge to scrap the backstop "unacceptable" and slammed his "combative" first Commons speech.
The EU's chief negotiator insisted he will only entertain requests "compatible with" Theresa May's deal in a brutal slap down to the new PM.
In an email to ambassadors from the 27 Member States he also said the Brexiteer's vow to ramp up No Deal planning is an attempt to break EU unity.
He wrote: "PM Johnson has stated that if an agreement is to be reached it goes by way of eliminating the backstop. This is of course unacceptable.
"While he has declared that he will only engage with the EU on this basis we are on our side ready to work constructively within our own mandate.
"But as suggested by his rather combative speech we have to be ready for a situation where he gives priority to planning for No Deal, partly to heap pressure on the unity of the EU27."
The Frenchman said No Deal "will never be the EU's choice" but that "we all have to be ready for all scenarios".
And he pledged to "remain available throughout the summer for talks with the UK" if they are requested by Mr Johnson.
Mr Barnier also noted there had been "many strong reactions to the speech in the Commons" in a reference to the angry opposition his plan encountered.
And he said this meant the EU "must follow carefully the further political and economic reactions and developments in the UK" in response to it.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "It's day one, the PM has said that he wants a deal and he's going to be energetic in the pursuit of that.
"The fact remains however that the Withdrawal Agreement has been rejected three times by this Parliament and it's clearly not acceptable to the current UK Parliament."
Mr Johnson was due to speak with chief Jean-Claude Juncker on the phone tonight as he kicked off his bid to renegotiate Mrs May's agreement.
MOST READ IN POLITICS
Responding to the new PM's remarks, a Commission spokeswoman said the EU was working towards the "best outcome" of Britain leaving with a deal.
She said: "When it comes to No Deal this is a significant disruption for citizens, for businesses and would have a serious economic impact that would be proportionally much greater to the UK than in the EU27 member states.
"So again, a point why the Withdrawal Agreement should be the best deal possible for both sides."
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online politics team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours