France’s Europe minister has warned Britain about the danger of self-imposed “artificial deadlines” in this year’s Brexit talks, suggesting both sides should be braced for a further six months of negotiations beyond Christmas if necessary.
Amélie de Montchalin, speaking at an event in London, said EU governments “do not care so much” about the existing deadlines for the talks. “If we need six more months so it will be,” she said. “The 10-month deadline is only relevant in terms of the British political agenda.”
The minister was responding to Boris Johnson’s threat on Thursday to walk away from negotiations if a deal is not on course by June. He has repeatedly ruled out extending the Brexit transition period, which maintains existing trading arrangements with the EU until December 31.
Talks between the two sides are due to start on Monday in Brussels, after Mr Johnson published his proposals for a free trade deal with the EU, in the same week that Brussels set out its own negotiating stance.
“We do not accept time pressure . . . if the UK decides to shorten negotiations it will not be our responsibility,” Ms de Montchalin said. “That decision will have consequences in terms of relationships . . . substance is much more important than deadlines.”
She added that the idea of the UK pursuing an Australia-style trade deal — in effect no deal at all — was far from ideal given the importance of the EU and UK economies to one another. “The Australian model does not exist: it is for the birds,” she said. “You are (economically) bigger, closer, more important.”
Britain is seeking an agreement on goods without tariffs or quotas, similar to Canada’s agreement with the EU. “The UK is not Canada,” Ms de Montchalin said. “The UK is the ninth economic power on the planet. You’re much bigger, you’re much closer, you’re much more important.”
The European Commission on Friday briefed national diplomats about the stark differences between the EU and UK negotiating positions.
One EU diplomat said that the commission highlighted Britain was rowing back from previous commitments to maintain a regulatory “level playing field” with the EU, as well as its lack of appetite for formalised foreign and defence policy co-operation.
Brussels is also concerned that Britain has rejected the idea of enshrining the future relationship in one overarching treaty with a single system for settling disputes.
Ms de Montchalin warned the EU would remain united in the next phase of negotiations and would not allow any “cherry-picking” by London during the talks. “We will not trade away our sovereignty in a UK-EU deal,” she said. “Do not underestimate our unity as sovereign Europeans.
“For sure, fishing is less interesting to Austria but . . . in a unifying manner we can protect the whole bloc’s interest.”
One of the most contentious elements of the EU position is a demand that Britain must abide by Brussels’ state aid rules in perpetuity.
Ms de Montchalin said if the UK had a free hand in state aid policy then it could create “huge distortions on industrial matters”. She added: “It was in the political declaration, it has been signed and it has been agreed from the beginning, it is in the interests of the UK and EU.”
