London unilaterally cancels the next round of Brexit negotiations

Boris Johnson's government has decided to put negotiations with Brussels on a future trade deal that would avoid hard Brexit on the very brink.

The British representative, David Frost, has asked his EU counterpart, Michel Barnier, to refrain from going to London next Monday, "because there is no basis for negotiating."

Despite the way in which the tension between the two parties had escalated after the European Council this week demanded more transfers to London, the European delegation had not changed its agenda, and had announced its intention to go ahead with the meetings. scheduled and even "intensify" the pace of work.

The message of the British Government leaves the ball completely in the European court.

Johnson appeared before the cameras last Friday to announce to the British that they should prepare for a hard Brexit when the transition period ended this year: “Given the [EU's] refusal to negotiate seriously in recent months, and given that the Council [European] seems to have explicitly ruled out an agreement similar to that of Canada [as pursued by Downing Street], I have come to the conclusion that we must prepare to reach 1 January in a situation more similar to Australia, based on the principles simple principles of free international trade, ”said the prime minister.

However, Johnson avoided, at the insistence of journalists, announcing clearly that he was breaking up the negotiations.

His representative Frost's message to Barnier clearly indicates that the British Government is ready to provoke a final crisis before showing any willingness to back down.

“The negotiations are over.

The EU has decided to put an end to them, and we are not going to participate in an absurd process, "he told

newspaper.

a government source.

The strongest position in the face of Johnson's order has been that of French President Emmanuel Macron.

"It is not the mission of the 27 member states that have chosen to remain in the EU to make the British prime minister happy," he said shortly after hearing Johnson's reaction.

However, German Chancellor Angela Merkel intervened to temper spirits and suggested that the EU will also have to make its own commitments if a deal is to be reached.

Even the president of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen, used her account on the social network Twitter to announce that her team was ready to "intensify the negotiations."

It is precisely that verb, “intensify”, that the European Council decided to eliminate from its final communiqué, which may appease London, which despite its defiance has not made clear what it wants from Brussels, beyond the image that both parties are willing to be flexible.

In fact, both Frost and Barnier agreed that communication between the two would continue next week by phone, in a clear sign that the bridges have not been completely broken.