"Am I bovver?" EU shrugs should Davis resign

"Am I Bovver?" Catherine Tate said. The EU Commission was indifferent to the resignation of David Davis to the point of insulting almost the man.

Chief Spokesperson Margaritis Schinas, at the Commission's daily press conference, had the objective of not giving any hostages. "The Commission warns against chaos" or "The Commission considers that the resignation is not relevant". So, it's better not to say anything.

He did not mean anything in tribute to Davis' role as chief Brexit negotiator, the Irish Times asked.

Asked if Davis' resignation was a problem: "Not for us".

Was there no panic in the ranks of the committee, no fear that the discussions on Brexit could be affected? Panic? Who we? "In this house, it is very clear that our position has always been very cool.We have avoided positioning the commission in terms of psychological elements – concern, enthusiasm, disappointment and so on.We are here to make a

Indeed, a work that theoretically includes providing journalists with a commission perspective on events such as the resignation of Davis.

Others, officials and diplomats, were a little more open to "react," though all the elements of the case.

Most quickly pointed out that Davis spent very little time negotiating in Brussels. A total of four hours this year, according to official records. He would hardly be missed. A much-vaunted warm-hearted relationship with his European counterpart Michel Barnier – their common pbadion for mountain trekking was often mentioned – was largely for the show.

Not only has Davis' role in the talks never been central. Olly Robbins, the official who is Theresa May's adviser and chief EU strategist, but the latter has actually usurped her position in the chain of command. "There have been obvious tensions for a while," said a diplomatic source.

Robbins wrote most of the political papers and keynote addresses in May and many of them would have never been seen by the former secretary of Brexit. about to be delivered. Some reports suggest that he was out of the loop on the White Paper discussed at the cabinet, to be released this week.

Balance of Forces

If Robbins had resigned, Brussels would have been very worried. And officials questioned whether Davis' replacement, Dominic Raab, had asked for badurances of a lesser role for Robbins, or his own access to the prime minister and his role in shaping Brexit policies. The London reports, on the contrary, suggest that his department will be reduced.

There is speculation in Brussels about whether the resignation marks a shift in the balance of power in the British cabinet. The appointment of Raab maintains the numerical balance between hard and soft Brexit supporters, but there is also a dynamic at stake in setting aside one of the big Brexit beasts.

Some think that the resignation was a reflection of the weakness of the hardened Brexit camp, not, so far anyway, the confident opening of a new line of attack on May. If other resignations occur, this could change, but calls from members of the Brexit in the month of May are rather hollow.

Diplomats and officials say that they do not believe that there will be a slowdown in the negotiation process. Schinas insisted on the availability of the commission 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and during the summer for negotiations.

Nor is the expectation that the resignation will deflect the United Kingdom from the line established by Theresa May in Checkers last Friday. Although most diplomatic and EU sources suggest that it has not gone far enough in its new proposals – particularly in its attempts to distinguish aspects of goods and services from the single market or freedom of movement, or the specifics of the backstop start to speak as soon as the UK delivers its white paper. It's still scheduled for Thursday.