
ANGELA MERKEL will tell Michel Barnier to demand “more realism” from British negotiators in order to get a Brexit deal across the line.
The German Chancellor wants Boris Johnson to be more flexible so she can convince her fellow European Union to support a compromise. The veteran leader will play an influential role in the remaining Brexit talks after she today assumed the role as head of the EU’s rotating presidency. Trade talks between the bloc and the UK are deemed as one of the top priorities over the six-month period, according to Mrs Merkel’s ambassador in Brussels.
Michael Cluass said: “We’ve got two mega issues to deal with, and neither of them can be postponed.”
He added: “Either the EU will succeed in negotiating a treaty that will shape relations with the UK in a good way, or we will have a rough landing on January 1, 2021, which would be very similar to hard Brexit.
“But it always takes two to tango… We’ll know in a few weeks’ time whether we can make progress at the negotiating table – or whether ideology will triumph.”
After five negotiation rounds, many conducted virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic, the two sides have failed to reach any substantial agreements.
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