Europe’s view: Johnson is clever but also unhelpful

The chief EU negotiator praised Boris Johnson as ‘clever’ but another key figure says he has increased the risk of a no-deal Brexit.

Protesters at Whitehall after Prime Minister Boris Johnson arrives back at Downing Street on Wednesday. Picture: Getty Images

The EU’s chief negotiator has praised Boris Johnson as “clever” but another key Brussels figure described him as unhelpful, irresponsible and having increased the risk of a “catastrophic” no-deal Brexit.

The judgments of Michel Barnier and Guy Verhofstadt came after confidential talks yesterday during which Mr Verhofstadt and his committee of senior MEPs were briefed by Mr Barnier on his latest assessment of the state of play on the withdrawal agreement drawn up between Britain and the EU last year.

Mr Verhofstadt, the former prime minister of Belgium who is the European parliament’s Brexit negotiator, said: “Politicised language from the Conservative leadership raising the spectre of a no-deal Brexit is unhelpful, irresponsible and only increases the risks of a catastrophic severance, which could destabilise the global economy.”

His view reflects that of most European governments. The discussion focused on Mr Johnson’s threat, made during the leadership campaign, to take Britain out of the EU without a deal unless European negotiators removed the controversial Irish backstop from the withdrawal treaty.

Publicly, Mr Barnier was more diplomatic and said he was looking forward to hearing Mr Johnson’s strategy “to facilitate the ratification of the withdrawal agreement”. “It’s a very important moment for Brexit,” he said. “Is it an orderly Brexit, the preference of the EU? Is it a no-deal Brexit? No-deal Brexit will never be the choice of the EU but we are prepared. We are ready to work.”

He recalled meeting Mr Johnson in 2012 when as European commissioner for financial services he was a guest of the London mayor for the Olympic Games. “We spoke once, it was a very (special) moment during the opening ceremony of the London Olympics, fantastic Games,” he said. “I think he is clever.”

European governments have dismissed Mr Johnson’s demand for a new withdrawal treaty. A fortnight ago Mr Barnier rejected a suggestion by Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay that Britain and the EU could agree “mini-deals” to soften the impact of a no-deal Brexit.

“We are united in the view that a no-deal exit will not be mitigated by any form of arrangements or mini-deals between the EU and the UK,” Mr Verhofstadt said.

The Belgian, who last month accused Mr Johnson of telling lies, will be a thorn in the Prime Minister’s side because the European parliament must agree to any changes made to any part of the withdrawal agreement.

Illustrating the hostility of the EU assembly, Udo Bullmann, the German leader of Socialist MEPs in the parliament, pledged to help Labour against Mr Johnson and any moves by his government to leave without a deal.

“Together with you, we will expose Boris Johnson’s lies and fight a hard Brexit,” he said.

France has pleaded with Mr Johnson not to ban its fishing boats from British waters in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

“It is possible that with Boris Johnson we will have a hard Brexit,” said Didier Guillaume, the French Agriculture and Fisheries Minister. “There is no scenario in which French fishermen should be prevented by Boris Johnson from fishing in British waters. I will keep telling Britain that our fishermen must be allowed to keep fishing in its waters.”

The Times