The president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, warned yesterday that the risk of that after all there is a Brexit without agreement on the 1st of November is "palpable" and to avoid it you need to "operational proposals in writing" of the Government of the United Kingdom. Juncker gave this warning in a debate in the plenary of the European Parliament in which a resolution was passed that leaves open the option of a new extension and noted that if it occurs that divorce is traumatic "would be entirely the responsibility of the british Government".
Speaking at a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Juncker became ironic with the fact that Johnson has been suspended by the activity of the british Parliament in contrast with the european Parliament, working at full pace. He also said that during his first meeting face-to-face with Boris Johnson on Monday in Luxembourg, he had said that the EU is willing to negotiate alternatives to the so-called "backstop" or safeguarding irish to avoid re-erect a border on the island of Ireland. "I told the prime minister, Johnson, had no emotional attachment to the 'backstop', but also that I maintain the objectives for which it is designed". The European Commission reiterated yesterday that is available to study any proposal by the united kingdom "24 hours a day and 7 days a week" but that has not yet received any indication from London to do this.
The british press has reported that during the interview, a working lunch, there was a situation that was very insightful, when it was clear that Boris Johnson had no idea of the complexity of carrying out the alternative plan that I wanted to put on the table for the border of ireland and is noted to your negotiating team. According to european sources, Johnson returned to London -after the incident of being absent from the press conference - with a more realistic idea of the situation.
Johnson has already said that you prefer to be "dead in a ditch" before you have to ask for a new extension to delay the exit from the EU, but if finally changed his opinion, in the resolution adopted yesterday, the European Parliament argues that "it would support an extension of the negotiation if there is reason and purpose for such an extension and if the functioning of the european institutions is not affected negatively". The specific definition of the sufficient reason would be "to avoid the non-agreement, hold elections or a referendum, to repeal article 50, or approve the agreement of withdrawal".
The resolution was approved by a vast majority of 544 votes in favour, 126 against and 38 abstentions and it fully supports the Commission's position in the negotiations and remains open to consider any new proposal by the united kingdom "provided that you comply with the principles negotiators of europe", which includes the protection of the single market and avoid a land border in Ireland.
Date Of Update: 19 September 2019, 09:00
