Brexit: Juncker blasts PM for not offering written proposals
The President of the European Commission has called for “operational proposals in writing” to avoid the increasingly “palpable” risk of a no-deal Brexit.
Speaking this morning, Jean-Claude Juncker said he has “no emotional attachment” to the Irish backstop – a softening towards the EU’s position on the matter.
Instead he said he would “stand by the objectives it is designed to achieve”. Previously the EU has suggested the backstop was the only solution.
But he blasted the UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson for failing to provide proposals in written form.
This tactic is being deployed by the UK negotiating team for fear it will be “trashed” , Morning Wire has reported this week.
Yesterday Morning Wire also reported how papers were being taken into meetings, but not being left behind.
Juncker told the European Parliament: “I called on the Prime Minister to come forward with operational proposals in writing for practical steps which would allow us to achieve those objectives.
“Now until such time as those proposals have been presented, I will not be able to tell you, looking you straight in the eye, that any real progress has been achieved.”
He also alluded to Johnson’s controversial decision to prorogue the UK’s parliament, saying “this house is open and in action, and not prorogued”.
The Supreme Court judges will sit for a second day today as the hearing into Johnson’s prorogation continues.
MEP and the European Parliament’s Brexit coordinator Guy Verhofstadt was particularly damning.
He said: “Not one sensible, practical proposal has been put forward by the UK to replace the backstop safety net.”
The Dutch politician added that the ‘Stormont lock’ on the Irish backstop, being put forward by the UK would be “a permanent instrument for blackmailing [the EU] during the negotiations”.
And he added that a free trade deal with the EU after Brexit would not be possible “without abiding by European standards”.
“We will never accept what people call Singapore in the North Sea. That will not happen, dear colleagues”
Seizing on Johnson’s description of himself as the Incredible Hulk, Verhofstadt said: “‘Boris Johnson likes to compare himself to movie characters.
“Concerning citizens’ rights – instead of playing the angry Hulk, I think he should inspire himself by another character – the caring nanny in the film of Mrs Doubtfire.”
Main image: Getty