At the end of a long day of discussion, which ended, on the night of Thursday December 12 to Friday December 13, by a half-victory – or a half-failure, it depends – for the supporters of 'Climate action, EU leaders were able to show more unity on Friday. They were to talk about Brexit, the day after the electoral victory of Boris Johnson which paves the way for the withdrawal of the United Kingdom on the date set, January 31, 2020. And they delivered a firm comment, saying they were ready to establish the relationship "As narrow as possible" with the United Kingdom, provided, however, that it does not become a competitor 'Unfair'.
"There will be a competitor at our door", warned German Chancellor Angela Merkel, which she says should push Europeans to act and decide faster. Even if he is happy that "The time of clarity" came, French President Emmanuel Macron supported this statement: it will be a question, for the Twenty-Seven, of ensuring fair competition and defending their "Strategic interests".
The Commission is preparing a negotiating mandate which will be ready on 1st February. It will be Michel Barnier’s roadmap, reinforced in his role as chief negotiator of the European Union. Will he have time to tie up, in eleven months, a free trade agreement presented as one of the most complex and ambitious for Europeans? The conclusion of most of the 41 European trade agreements has so far taken at least three or four years, sometimes much longer.
" It's short "
"Eleven months is very short", admits Commission President Ursula von der Leyen who advocates the rapid definition of "Priorities". The entourage of Mr. Barnier also seems to fear the brevity of the deadline: the negotiated provisions set the deadline for December 31, 2020. And it will not be postponed unless Mr. Johnson – who says at this stage refuse this option – request a postponement (of one or two years) at the latest on 1st next July.
In the immediate term, there is no question of raising the tone with regard to the leader of the tories, congratulated on all sides Friday. Mr. Macron advocates maintaining and strengthening the "Very special bond" which links Europe and the United Kingdom and explains that "History and values unite us, beyond difficulty and disappointment". The fact remains that even "Friend and partner", Mr. Johnson’s country must realize that "We will not be able to conclude an ambitious trade agreement without regulatory convergence, failing which, there will be dumping, and that is impossible", underlines the president. The great fear of Europeans is that the United Kingdom will take advantage of the exit from the EU to deregulate as much as possible, be it in social, environmental or fiscal terms.
