Editorial of the “World”. For more than four years, the British have stood on the edge of the Brexit cliff, alternating phases of diplomacy with ” [leurs] friends “ of the European Union, which they chose to leave, and the moments of tension. Once again, the atmosphere is at war of nerves on the eve of the resumption, Tuesday September 8, of negotiations on the future of relations between London and Brussels. Boris Johnson threatens to slam the door on talks if a free trade deal is not found by mid-October, for implementation before the December 31 deadline.
In the absence of agreement and except postponement of this deadline, which the British Prime Minister says he excludes, customs borders will fall between the United Kingdom and the EU, whose trade relations would then evolve in the absence of common rules, detrimental to their savings. Bravache, Mr. Johnson repeats that such a “no deal” would be “A good outcome for the United Kingdom”. The latest provocation, his government is preparing two bills that contradict certain commitments on Northern Ireland contained in the divorce agreement that he himself signed in January with the Twenty-Seven.
These repeated rantings should not impress Europeans. Michel Barnier, the head of European negotiators, was right to recall, on Monday, that “Confidence for the future” goes through the respect of “Everything that has been signed in the past”. Like Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, to insist on the international commitment signed by London.
Make people forget the disastrous management of Covid-19
The negotiations stuck mainly on Mr Johnson’s demand for decision-making autonomy on state aid to companies. This is part of the Brexit logic which promises to “Take back control”. But it makes Europeans fear British dumping.
In reality, Boris Johnson’s chauvinistic outbursts of promising a bright future after Brexit mask a series of weaknesses. The British Prime Minister, who has lost 26 points in the polls since the start of the pandemic, seeks to make people forget his calamitous management of Covid-19. While the crisis caused by the virus has rendered obsolete the new globalization advocated by supporters of Brexit, it only remains to vibrate its favorite string, that of nationalism. Especially since the health crisis is reviving the independence dynamic in Scotland and Brexit makes Ireland’s reunification probable.
As for the dream attributed to Mr Johnson of hiding the economic damage of a no-deal Brexit by those of the economic crisis following the Covid, it exceeds the bounds of cynicism and does not stand up to the truth of the figures: 47% of British exports are sent to Europe, while the EU sends only 8% of its products across the Channel. Bad for mainlanders, a “no deal” would be catastrophic for the British.
As the end of this interminable marathon approaches, we must salute the coolness shown by Michel Barnier to overcome this umpteenth phase of tensions. The preservation of the single market, called into question by Mr Johnson’s breaches in Northern Ireland, must continue to unite the Twenty-Seven. The remarkable unity they have shown so far on Brexit must continue. It is on this condition that Europe will be able to reach a balanced agreement with its British neighbor without allowing itself to be intimidated by the postures of a prime minister in a less flattering position than it seems.
