EU mocks Boris Johnson for his vision of Brexit ‘independence’ which involves ‘cherry picking’ bloc benefits
Former Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Jean-Claude Juncker, former president of the European Commission, and Michel Barnier, the EU's Chief Brexit Negotiator. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA. - Credit: PA
Boris Johnson has been accused of 'cherry picking' benefits of EU membership during Brexit trade negotiations, which kicked off earlier this week over videolink because of the coronavirus.
The EU has branded Boris Johnson's latest post-Brexit trade proposals on aviation, nuclear, justice and security cooperation as lacking 'recognition' of what leaving the bloc really means for Britain.
In a statement later expected on Friday, the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier is set to rebuff a number proposals put forward by the UK's counterpart, David Frost. These include remaining in the EU's crime-fighting agency Europol and altering the Passenger Name Record to include people travelling by rail and sea.
You may also want to watch:
In leaked documents, EU negotiators have labelled those demands as 'not possible', stressing that UK was 'cherry picking' benefits that only member states could enjoy.
Most Read
- 1 Betty Boothroyd delivers scathing assessment of Boris Johnson's government
- 2 Boris Johnson 'plans to resign' in six months because he can't live on £150k salary
- 3 Government told to publish impact assessments for Boris Johnson's 'Narnia' deal with EU
- 4 Brexiteer admits 'Australia-style deal' term designed to 'pull wool over voters' eyes'
- 5 Remainers blamed for Boris Johnson's inability to secure Brexit deal
- 6 Theresa May brands Michael Gove's no-deal Brexit statement 'utter rubbish'
- 7 ERG MP says Boris Johnson should consider cutting ties with Church of England following Brexit row
- 8 Boris Johnson told to apologise for incompetence in delivering his 'oven-ready' Brexit deal
- 9 Labour MP calls Dan Wootton a 'complete and utter nutcase' following Covid-19 herd immunity comment
- 10 Leaked government dossier warns of army street patrols if second Covid-19 wave and no-deal Brexit hit UK at same time
Instead, the EU will demand the UK accept jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in order to remain a 'third-country' member of Europol.
Barnier weighed in on the issue earlier this month. He said: 'They [the UK] do not wish formally to commit to continuing to apply the ECHR, nor do they wish to permit the European Court of Justice to play its full role in interpreting EU law.
'This is serious. I say this is grave because if the UK's position does not move it will have an immediate and concrete effect on the level of ambition of our co-operation.'
Barnier will hold a press conference on Brexit trade negotiations later today along chief UK Brexit negotiator David Frost.
The government does not want a Brexit extension because of fears the UK may be left paying into EU schemes if it does not leave by December 31.
Become a Supporter
The New European is proud of its journalism and we hope you are proud of it too. We believe our voice is important - both in representing the pro-EU perspective and also to help rebalance the right wing extremes of much of the UK national press. If you value what we are doing, you can help us by making a contribution to the cost of our journalism.
