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The European Union rejected an attempt by Boris Johnson, the new British prime minister, to rewrite an agreement on Britain's departure from the bloc, the Brexit.
Thursday's dismissal by Brexit EU negotiator Michel Barnier European officials then accused Johnson of "bullying" and adopting a "combative" approach by reinforcing the threat of a "no-compromise" divorce.
A day after taking office, Johnson on Thursday held a confrontation with Brussels promising to negotiate a new divorce deal and threatening that, if the EU refused, he would ban his country from the bloc on Oct. 31.
In his first speech to Parliament as the new British Prime Minister, Johnson stated that the terms of the agreement reached in November by his predecessor, Theresa May, were "unacceptable" and "would nullify our economic independence".
He urged the bloc to "rethink" its opposition to a new agreement, stating: "If they do not, we will of course have to leave the EU without an agreement".
Johnson said he would not accept Irish support, an insurance policy intended to preserve the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland by temporarily maintaining the United Kingdom. Kingdom bound to the EU's economic rules. Ireland is a member of the EU, while Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom.
"It must be understood that the solution of the problem pbades by the abolition of the backstop," he said. threatening to withhold the £ 39 billion ($ 49 billion) exit payment that May agreed to if he did not agree.
In response, Barnier rejected these conditions and called Johnson's demands "unacceptable".
"As his rather aggressive rhetoric suggests, we must be ready for a situation in which he will give priority to the planning of" non-agreement ", partly to reinforce the pressure on the unity of the EU27 "Barnier said in a note to the EU member states on Thursday.
He told the bloc "to remain calm, to stick to our principles and guidelines and to show solidarity and unity".
"Best and only possible deal"
Amelie de Montchalin, French Minister for European Affairs, said Friday in Paris that there was no question of renegotiating the divorce agreement but that both sides still had a lot to discuss.
"What remains to be negotiated is the future relations," said de Montchalin to the public broadcaster France 2. "We must create a working relationship and not to enter games, gestures and provocations".
French President Emmanuel Macron will hold talks on Brexit with Johnson in France in the coming weeks, she added.
In Berlin, a German legislator and ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel said that the EU would not be intimidated to compromise its principles.
"Neither wacky speeches nor intimidation will succeed in making us renounce the principles and unity of the EU," said Norbert Roettgen in a tweet addressed to Johnson. "Will stay cool instead," he added.
expensive @BorisJohnson: Neither boastful speeches nor bullying will succeed in making us give up #UE principles and unity. Will stay cool instead. Unfortunately, both in word and deed – appointed a cabinet of #Brexiteers – #Johnson fails to reach the country and the continent. #Brexit
– Norbert Röttgen (@n_roettgen) July 25, 2019
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said in a telephone call to Johnson on Thursday that EU leaders have given Brussels no mandate to renegotiate.
"President Juncker has listened to Prime Minister Johnson's remarks, reiterating the EU's position that the withdrawal agreement is the best and the only possible agreement – in accordance with the European Council's directives" said Juncker spokeswoman Mina Andreeva.
Irish support, contained in a memorandum of withdrawal agreement negotiated in May, is the most contentious part of the deal for British lawmakers, who fear it will end up separating Ireland North of the rest of the UK.
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, whose highly trade-dependent nation is likely to lose the most because of the disorganized division between the EU and the UK, reiterated his call for a compromise on Thursday.
"I hope that the new British Prime Minister has not chosen any agreement," he said.
Chaotic Brexit
Without a divorce agreement, Britain faces a chaotic Brexit which, according to economists, would disrupt trade by imposing tariffs and customs controls between the outgoing country and the bloc. They say it could drop the value of the pound and plunge the UK into a recession.
Johnson argues that its threat of a disordered end to Britain's participation in the EU will force Brussels to yield and give London better conditions that would allow it to enter into trade agreements with powers. such as China and the United States.
Since taking office Wednesday, Johnson has changed more than half of May's team ministers and has installed what some have described as the UK's most right-wing government for decades.
Aged 55, he has badembled a team of social conservatives and hard-core Brexit people who argue that leaving the EU after 46 years without agreement will be less painful than economists expect.
It is almost certain that opposition lawmakers will try to overthrow the Johnson government by a vote of no confidence in September.
In addition, it is increasingly badumed that Johnson could call early elections in the hope of securing a majority in Parliament for his projects.
The next elections scheduled for the country will not run until 2022. Johnson said his priority would be Brexit, not an advance poll – but he did not rule out the possibility of a ballot.
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