Get 40% Off
🤯 This Tech Portfolio is up 29% YTD! Join Now to Get April’s Top PicksGet The Picks – Just 99 USD

Exclusive-French minister rejects UK Brexit renegotiation request

Published 22/07/2021, 18:15
Updated 22/07/2021, 18:45
© Reuters. European Commission Vice-President in charge of Values and Transparency Vera Jourova and French Minister for European Affairs Clement Beaune pose for a picture before their meeting during a General Affairs Council in Luxembourg June 22, 2021. John Thys/Po

© Reuters. European Commission Vice-President in charge of Values and Transparency Vera Jourova and French Minister for European Affairs Clement Beaune pose for a picture before their meeting during a General Affairs Council in Luxembourg June 22, 2021. John Thys/Po

By Michel Rose

PARIS (Reuters) -France's Europe minister Clement Beaune rejected on Thursday Britain's request to renegotiate the Brexit deal governing trade with Northern Ireland, dismissing British accusations of European dogmatism as a "tall tale".

Britain on Wednesday demanded a new deal from the European Union to govern post-Brexit trade with the British province, saying it already had cause to step away from parts of the deal that it struck with Brussels only last year.

London accuses Brussels of being too purist, or legalistic, in interpreting what the deal means for some goods moving from Britain to Northern Ireland.

The European Commission earlier on Thursday said it would not renegotiate the deal and work on "creative solutions", but the first reaction from France showed some members states were getting impatient with Britain.

"The European Union has dedicated days and nights for the past five years to find pragmatic solutions with the United Kingdom," Beaune told Reuters. "The narrative of a rigid and dogmatic Europe is a tall tale."

France has consistently taken a hard line in Brexit negotiations, often expressing out loud what other member states said privately.

Beaune, the rising star of the French government, is a close ally of President Emmanuel Macron. He first worked as Macron's Europe adviser before being named a cabinet minister, and has followed Brexit negotiations behind the scenes from the onset.

"We have been working for months to make the protocol requested by the British government and voted by the British parliament work," he said.

© Reuters. European Commission Vice-President in charge of Values and Transparency Vera Jourova and French Minister for European Affairs Clement Beaune pose for a picture before their meeting during a General Affairs Council in Luxembourg June 22, 2021. John Thys/Pool via REUTERS

"We can still work on practical solutions, but not empty the protocol of its substance or renegotiate it," he added.

"How could we renegotiate with a partner that cannot respect its own commitments?" said Beaune.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.