Thursday, February 13

Day: July 26, 2019

Johnson threat to EU over backstop
Featured, United Kingdom

Johnson threat to EU over backstop

Boris Johnson’s government has played down the idea of fresh Brexit talks with the EU unless Brussels first agrees to reopen the entire withdrawal agreement and scrap the Irish backstop, both of which have been repeatedly ruled out. In a stance that appears to place the UK more firmly on course for a no-deal departure on 31 October, Downing Street said there were no new Brexit talks scheduled, and that Johnson was clear what the basis for those discussions needs to be. His spokesman said: I don’t have a date to point you towards. The PM has been very clear that he is ready to begin having those discussions, but obviously the key point is the withdrawal agreement is not going to pass parliament, so that is going to mean reopening the withdrawal agreement. He added: He will be energetic...
France issues warning to Johnson over Irish border
Featured, United Kingdom

France issues warning to Johnson over Irish border

    The French government has warned Boris Johnson against playing games with the Irish border after the new British prime minister demanded the ditching of the backstop. Amélie de Montchalin, France’s minister for European affairs, said both sides should avoid “games, gestures and provocations” with just three months to go before the UK is due to leave the EU. Speaking alongside her Irish counterpart, Helen McEntee, during a visit to the Irish border, De Montchalin said the French president, Emmanuel Macron, would hold talks with Johnson in France in the coming weeks. She said there was “solidarity” with Ireland and reiterated that the withdrawal agreement was “the best we have” and would not be renegotiated. De Montchalin said: “As you know, France has a simple appr...