U.K. Must ‘Internalize’ What’s Needed for Deal, Barnier Tells EU
- Ambassadors told Johnson will have to make political decision
- British team has yet to ‘internalize’ compromises needed
Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator.
Photographer: Simon Dawson/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Michel Barnier told European Union ambassadors this week that the U.K. has shown no signs of movement on the big issues holding up Brexit talks and Boris Johnson will have to make a political decision to change his stance if he’s to reach an agreement.
The EU’s chief negotiator has made that point directly to his counterpart David Frost, according to a diplomatic note of a meeting that took place on Wednesday. Barnier told the diplomats that his feeling is that London wants a deal but has yet to “internalize” the necessary compromises and concessions that are needed to reach one, the document, seen by Bloomberg, says.