Michel Barnier warns Boris Johnson to compromise with EU or Brexit talks won’t go anywhere

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MICHEL Barnier warned Boris Johnson the Brexit talks won’t go anywhere unless he accepts the EU’s offer to compromise.

Brussels’ dealmaker said he’s ready to meet the PM in the middle on key sticking points but needs a sign from No 10 that it’s serious about a deal.

Michel Barnier has warned Boris Johnson the Brexit talks won’t go anywhere unless he compromises

He went his furthest yet in saying he’s “ready to compromise” on the bloc’s most controversial demands.

The Frenchman insisted he is not asking Britain to follow EU rules after Brexit and that its position has been “misunderstood”.

And he expressed hopes a meeting between the PM and Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen this month will “provide a new political impetus to our talks”.

He said: “During the past negotiating round the UK must have taken note of the EU’s willingness to search for compromises.

“What we now need to make progress are clear and concrete signals that the UK too is open to work on an agreement.

“We can find the necessary compromises on the condition the UK changes its approach and accepts an appropriate balance of rights, benefits, obligations, and legally binding constraints.”

Mr Barnier said the two sides are set to restructure the talks around smaller, more intense meetings.

And he also had a pop at ministers and MPs who have criticised the bloc’s positions as unreasonable.

He fumed: “They’re only unreasonable for those who refuse to accept that Brexit has negative consequences.

“We will never compromise on our European values, on our economic and trade interests, to the benefit of the British economy.”

Mr Barnier accused the UK of trying to “cherry-pick” staying in the parts of the Single Market that have benefitted it most.

He said: “We must ask ourselves whether it is really in the EU interest for the UK to retain such a prominent position.”

Barnier expressed hopes of a meeting between the PM and Commission chief

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Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.hellofaread.com/politics/travel-corridors-to-give-brits-a-summer-holiday-being-actively-worked-on-says-transport-sec/