Ongoing debate on Brexit discussions and David Davis’ criticism of Brussels

European media outlets continue to grant wide coverage to the UK’s exit from the EU and several related issues. Cinco Dias says that the EU and the UK will enter the second stage of Brexit talks this month with increasing doubts. EU Member States are divided between those that want a fast divorce and those that would prefer a British rectification. Ten months before the deadline to confirm the exit calendar, all the possibilities remain open, points out the Spanish daily.

At a press conference in Brussels yesterday, European Commission Chief Spokesperson Schinas commented on the Brexit negotiations, notes Standart daily. Mr Schinas stated that the European Commission was “somewhat surprised, that the UK is surprised that we are preparing for the scenario announced by the UK government itself”. He recalled that Prime Minister May had reiterated that “no deal for Britain is better than a bad deal”. Therefore, the Commission is preparing for every eventuality, Mr Schinas concluded.

Dailymail.co.uk reports that a leaked EU report has revealed that the bloc is well aware that a bad Brexit deal will cost jobs and harm trade in Europe. The report brings together submissions made by EU Member States to the EU’s Committee of the Regions, on the possible economic impact of Brexit in parts of the bloc, and highlights fears in Europe that the UK leaving the EU without a free trade deal will cost their countries trade and jobs. Germany is worried a bad deal will harm its trade while France is also concerned its car manufacturing sector could be harmed by Britain’s withdrawal, also notes dailymail.co.uk.

European Commission Chief Negotiator Barnier, notes The Irish Times, has warned that the red lines that Britain has set down for its future relations with the EU are creating difficult barriers for itself, not least in the crucial field of financial services. Also, several outlets, for instance Austrian, Cypriot and Greek outlets, report that British Secretary of State for Exiting the EU, David Davis sent a letter to British Prime Minister May, complaining that Brussels is harming British interests, because it frequently reminds British companies of the consequences of leaving the EU without an agreement. In his letter, which was published in the Financial Times, Mr Davis accused the European Commission of not acting in good will in the way it treats the UK, notes the Greek press.

As reported by Philenews yesterday, based on information by the Athens-Macedonian News Agency, the letter showed that Mr Davis sought legal advice over whether Brussels was breaching Britain’s rights as an EU Member State, by advising companies of the risk to trade in the event of a “no deal”.

Many commentaries are published today. In a joint opinion piece for Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond and Secretary of State for Exiting the EU David Davis promise that the UK will continue to work closely together with Germany and the EU after Brexit. While the ministers understand, that third countries cannot be granted the same privileges as members of the EU Single Market, they emphasise that a continued close trade relationship is in the best interest of everyone involved. The ministers also confirm their support for a transitional period after Brexit comes into effect.

A Daily Telegraph editorial claims there is a difference between the UK’s preparations for a no-deal Brexit and those being pursued by the EU. While Britain is preparing for a no-deal scenario, it is aiming to achieve a deal, the European Commission does not want to include aims for transitional arrangements in its guidance to businesses, the paper claims. A Daily Express op-ed criticises the EU for its “clear attempt to punish Britain” for Brexit, arguing it is “what the EU does to anyone who dares to stand up to the bully boys of Brussels”. The British article also notes it “should reassure us that we are doing the right thing” and that “the sooner we set out on our own the better”.

Mathijs Bouman comments, in a column in Het Financieele Dagblad, on a letter David Davis wrote last month to Prime Minister May. In the letter, Mr Davis complained about the fact that the EU and some of its agencies informed European companies about the possible consequences of Brexit. He said in the letter that the European Commission’s actions are unacceptable, even though he admitted that no legal steps can be taken. Mr Bouman wonders why Mr Davis thinks Brussels should not be allowed to do this as it would be a sign of maladministration if Brussels failed to warn companies about the possible adverse effects of Brexit. Mr Davis’s letter is also discussed by La Libre Belgique‘s Olivier Le Bussy.

Meanwhile, British historian Timothy Garton Ash writes, in a commentary in Denmark’s Information, that 2018 will be the final chance to stop Brexit and that pro-European British citizens will need help from other fellow Europeans to do so. Mr Ash fears that Brexit will cause a collapse in the British union, since Scotland remains EU-friendly and Northern Ireland wants to keep the Southern border to Ireland open.