August 22, 2019
Emmanuel Macron has made clear to Boris Johnson that the EU will not tear up the existing Brexit deal, warning the guarantee of an Irish backstop is “indispensable”.
Emmanuel Macron Warns Boris Johnson Of Indispensable Irish Backstop Amid New Brexit Deal Hopes
The Prime Minister appeared optimistic on Thursday night after a two-day visit taking in Paris and Berlin that saw him hold crunch meetings with the French president and German chancellor Angela Merkel, and apparently wringing out compromises from the European Union.
His upbeat mood was fuelled by a 30-day timescale floated by Merkel for a new deal and Macron leaving open the possibility of making some changes to the withdrawal agreement secured by Theresa May.
But Macron, who conceded he can be seen as the EU’s “hard boy”, said the withdrawal agreement and Irish backstop - the major stumbling block – are “not just technical constraints or legal quibbling”.
He added they are “genuine, indispensable guarantees” to preserve stability in Ireland and the integrity of the single market.
“We will not find a new withdrawal agreement within 30 days that will be very different from the existing one,” the French president said in comments that were interpreted as both a sign of flexibility and an indication that nothing major would change.
Johnson has demanded the backstop – a contingency plan aimed at ensuring a soft border with Ireland in all circumstances – should be scrapped.
Merkel, too, sought to play down the importance of the 30-day period she had referred to on Wednesday, saying it was merely “an allegory for being able to do it in a short period of time”.
In any case, the financial markets took the meetings as a positive sign. The pound, sensitive to the prospect of a no-deal Brexit, rose 1% against both the dollar and the euro on Merkel’s comments.Johnson said there were “positive noises” from Merkel about alternatives to the backstop and hailed the German’s ”‘can-do’ spirit”.
The PM cited the so-called ‘trusted trader’ schemes and electronic pre-clearing for goods as ways to avoid a hard Irish border.
The two leaders were speaking at a press conference ahead of their formal talks at the Elysee Palace.
It was in the grand surroundings of the presidential residence that Johnson was pictured putting his foot on a table. The image swiftly prompted criticism online.
However, footage of the incident later suggested the brief gesture was a shared joke, with the prime minister appearing to pose for the cameras as the pair laughed.
The relaxed atmosphere between the pair was in contrast to comments overnight from the French leader, who had suggested a no-deal Brexit could come at the cost of “a historic vassalisation of Britain”.
Macron’s stark warning about the UK’s place on the world stage after Brexit came ahead of the G7 summit in Biarritz starting on Saturday.
At Johnson’s debut at the global event, the PM is expected to meet Donald Trump, who has previously been an isolated figure at such gatherings.
On Wednesday, Macron warned that the UK would be a “junior partner” in its relationship with Washington if it sought to strenghten transatlantic links after a hard Brexit.
“Can the cost for Britain of a hard Brexit – because Britain will be the main victim – be offset by the United States of America? No,” Macron said.Related... It All Kicked Off After Boris Johnson Put Foot On Table During Meeting With Emmanuel Macron Macron Warns Johnson: France Will Be 'Hard Boy' Of EU In Fresh Brexit Talks Macron Taunts Johnson: UK Could Become Trump's 'Vassal' After No-Deal Brexit
Related Stories
Latest News
Top news around the world
Academy Awards

‘Oppenheimer’ Reigns at Oscars With Seven Wins, Including Best Picture and Director

Get the latest news about the 2024 Oscars, including nominations, winners, predictions and red carpet fashion at 96th Academy Awards

Around the World

Celebrity News

> Latest News in Media

Watch It
Millie Bobby Brown & Jake Bongiovi Celebrate “Three Years of Bliss” Ahead of Wedding
March 24, 2024
C4Ehegcq1-A
Kate Middleton & Prince William "Enormously Touched" by Public Support
March 24, 2024
s8fig-RCjFc
Gisele Bündchen Denies Cheating on Ex-Husband Tom Brady
March 23, 2024
_SpRMagA8BM
Eminem, 50 Cent & Snoop Dogg Present Dr. Dre with a Star on the Walk of Fame
March 19, 2024
4bNLs1hxVp8
Opening Remarks for the Variety Summit October 20th, 2023 Jay Penske
March 18, 2024
c6Z707iLq8E
'Everybody Was S----ing Their Pants': Nick Thune Jokes About Being Born in the '70s and Fatherhood
March 16, 2024
mm7Baf6o2d8
Gunna Says Tour Will Up Creativity in Rap, Endorses Flo Milli | TMZ
March 22, 2024
QfMU24fw-Qo
Reporter Taylor Lorenz Says Palace Botched Kate Cancer News Rollout | TMZ Live
March 22, 2024
o43ZucdiyEo
Riley Strain's Body Found After Going Missing in Nashville 2 Weeks Ago | TMZ NOW
March 22, 2024
1m1zM-4_Cs8
Kyle Richards hasn’t spoken to co-star Dorit Kemsley, denies sending her a ‘manipulative’ text
March 24, 2024
LqLZzDP1hm4
Jordan Emanuel on her connection to 'RHOSLC' star Meredith Marks, advice from Amanda Batula
March 24, 2024
5NPAwlOov1Y
Kate Middleton’s uncle Gary apologizes after slamming ‘fickle’ Meghan Markle in scathing interview
March 24, 2024
JWG9kitALZk
TV Schedule
Late Night Show
Watch the latest shows of U.S. top comedians

Sports

Latest sport results, news, videos, interviews and comments
Latest Events
20
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
SK Brann W - Barcelona W
20
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
Hacken W - PSG W
19
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
SL Benfica W - Lyon W
19
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
Ajax W - Chelsea W
17
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Atletico Madrid - Barcelona
17
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Manchester United - Liverpool
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Inter Milan - Napoli
17
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Brighton - Manchester City
17
Mar
GERMANY: Bundesliga
Borussia Dortmund - Eintracht Frankfurt
17
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Chelsea - Leicester City
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Roma - Sassuolo
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Verona - AC Milan
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Juventus - Genoa
16
Mar
GERMANY: Bundesliga
Darmstadt - Bayern Munich
16
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Manchester City - Newcastle United
16
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Fulham - Tottenham Hotspur
16
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Osasuna - Real Madrid
13
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Atletico Madrid - Inter Milan
12
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Barcelona - Napoli
12
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Arsenal - Porto
11
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Chelsea - Newcastle United
10
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Liverpool - Manchester City
10
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Real Madrid - Celta Vigo
10
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Aston Villa - Tottenham Hotspur
10
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Juventus - Atalanta
10
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Fiorentina - Roma
10
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
AC Milan - Empoli
Find us on Instagram
at @feedimo to stay up to date with the latest.
Featured Video You Might Like
zWJ3MxW_HWA L1eLanNeZKg i1XRgbyUtOo -g9Qziqbif8 0vmRhiLHE2U JFCZUoa6MYE UfN5PCF5EUo 2PV55f3-UAg W3y9zuI_F64 -7qCxIccihU pQ9gcOoH9R8 g5MRDEXRk4k
Copyright © 2020 Feedimo. All Rights Reserved.