by N. Peter Kramer
On Sunday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson told his cabinet that while he could see a ‘pathway’ to a deal, there was ‘still a significant amount of work’ needed to get there. The European Commission echoed the prime minister, saying: ‘A lot of work remains to be done’. But both sides have said they hope to agree a deal before the EU summit on Thursday and Friday.
In a statement, the EU said they were prepared that the ‘intense technical discussions between officials’ would continue until Wednesday, the eve of the summit, despite saying previously that a revised deal had to be ready a week in advance. You read it well. The EU write the rules for the Brexit negotiations. Although many observers have the impression that the word ‘negotiations’ is a straight euphemism. Barnier, the EU-chief negotiator, is just telling the Brits what they have to accept. The former British PM, Teresa May, was not a match for these eurocrats. It looks like her successor is more sturdy.
Don’t underestimate the frustrations of the europhiles and eurocrats. They never understood that a majority of the voters in the UK, one of the most important memberstates, (still) love to leave the ‘EU Walhalla’.
