EU Toughens Brexit Stance after ‘Unacceptable’ Comments: Verhofstadt

The EU has hardened its position on Brexit trade talks after “unacceptable” comments by a British minister that risk undermining negotiations, the European Parliament’s pointman Guy Verhofstadt said Tuesday.


Britain’s David Davis has caused alarm by saying that a deal struck in Brussels last Friday to agree separation arrangements and open talks on future relations was a “statement of intent” rather than “legally enforceable.”

Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament’s Brexit coordinator, said that following Davis’s remarks made on Sunday, EU leaders meeting for a summit this week would now insist on the divorce terms being legally binding.

“I have seen a hardening of the position of the council (EU leaders), and there will be a hardening position of the parliament,” which will vote on a Brexit motion on Wednesday, Verhofstadt told reporters at the parliament in Strasbourg, France.

“It’s clear that the European Council will be stricter now in saying… we want that these commitments are translated into legal texts before we make progress in the second phase.”
 [almanar.com.lb/AFP]
 12/12/17