Brexit withdrawal agreement will not be re-opened, warns key ally of Angela Merkel

A key ally of Angela Merkel has stressed that she and other EU leaders were adamant that the Brexit withdrawal agreement will not be re-opened
AFP/Getty Images
WEST END FINAL

Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories, opinion and expert analysis

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

A key ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel today stressed that she and other EU leaders were adamant that the Brexit withdrawal agreement will not be re-opened.

German MEP David McAllister, a member of Ms Merkel’s CDU party, said they were ready to discuss changes to the political declaration on a future EU-UK relationship.

But he argued that the “divorce” deal had been drawn up with the institutions of Britain and other countries, rather than just Theresa May.

“The 27 heads of government, the European Council, but also the Commission have all been very clear that the agreement cannot be re-opened,” he told BBC radio.

“On the other hand, (incoming European Commission president) Ursula von der Leyen and others have announced that we would be open to changes to the political declaration... about our future relations..so if there are any proposals coming from London, especially for a more ambitious future EU-UK partnership, then we are open to discuss this.

“But once again I don’t believe that the withdrawal agreement will be re-opened.” Meanwhile, Brussels’ chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier was today meeting the European Parliament’s steering group on Brexit as Boris Johnson was due to take over as Prime Minister.

Mr Barnier and EU leaders have made clear that they are ready to speak to Mr Johnson about ways to break the Brexit deadlock.

But their warm words, which are seen as partly an attempt to avoid any blame for a no-deal, stop well short of the new Prime Minister’s demands to ditch the current withdrawal agreement.

His arrival in No 10 was given wide coverage in the European and worldwide media.

An article in Germany’s Suddeutsche Zeitung highlighted: “In Brussels, it is expected that the new British Prime Minister Johnson will again ask the EU for a postponement of the withdrawal date.”

But it also added: “Behind the scenes, a plan is also being worked on which could allow Johnson to stand in the battle for Brexit as the supposed winner.”

In France, Le Monde reported: “The arrival of Boris Johnson in power in the UK is anything but a surprise.

“It does not worry Europeans less, as long as the new British Prime Minister seems ready to harden the tone to finally deliver Brexit which he has heralded since 2016.”

A Le Figaro article said: “After years of coveting power, Johnson finally meets his destiny.”

Peter Nonnenmacher wrote in the Swiss title Neue Zurcher Zeitung: “It will not be easy for him.

“From the situation into which he has manoeuvred, there is no apparent way out.”

Three Flemish-language Belgian newspapers all make reference to Brexit in their coverage. De Morgen writes the EU is “not afraid of Johnson”, de Standaard says Johnson “had 100 days” — a reference to the Brexit deadline of October 31 — and De Tijd writes “The loot has been secured”.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in