French minister predicts EU and Britain will ‘rip each other apart’ over Brexit talks
EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen. Picture: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire. - Credit: PA
A French minister has warned Britain to expect a bruising battle with the EU in the forthcoming negotiations on a post-Brexit trade deal.
Jean-Yves le Drian predicted the two sides would "rip each other apart" as they strove for advantage in the talks as he made clear that Brussels will defend its interests when negotiations begin next month.
Speaking at the annual Munich Security Conference, he said: "I think that on trade issues and the mechanism for future relations, which we are going to start on, we are going to rip each other apart.
"But that is part of negotiations, everyone will defend their own interests."
Mr le Drian, a close ally of president Emmanuel Macron, is the latest senior EU figure to warn that the negotiations will be difficult.
You may also want to watch:
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and chief negotiator Michel Barnier have both cast doubt on Boris Johnson's aim to reach a comprehensive agreement by the end of the year when the Brexit transition period runs out.
The EU has repeatedly warned Britain cannot expect to enjoy continued "high quality" market access if it insists on diverging from EU social and environmental standards.
Most Read
- 1 The greatest failure of government in our lifetime
- 2 Jacob Rees-Mogg claims fish captured after Brexit deal came into effect were 'British and happier for it'
- 3 Matt Hancock praises free school meals before being reminded he voted against them
- 4 James O'Brien schools Brexiteer who refuses to accept new EU-UK trade rules
- 5 Brexiteer MP ridiculed after calling for free movement of goods between GB and NI
- 6 Katie Hopkins joins UKIP in time for leadership contest
- 7 What Remainers should have done differently
- 8 Spokesman indicates Boris Johnson has not read Brexit trade deal text
- 9 Scottish fishing boats ditch UK waters for Denmark to escape Brexit red tape
- 10 Michel Barnier tells Britain Brexit red tape is here 'for good'
There is expected to be a particularly tough fight over fishing rights, with the EU insisting continued access to UK waters must form part of any agreement.
Mr Johnson, in turn, has said the UK will act as an "independent coastal state" taking control of its own fisheries.
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.