EU demands Britain sets out next plans for Brexit or negotiations stop
GETT/WPA Theresa May was forced to again insist the UK must leave the customs union after Brexit
In a speech in Hannover he said it was up to the Government to come up with its vision for the future that either finalised or changed the UK's red lines. "It is now up to the UK to come up with its vision for the future, which should confirm the UK's red lines or adapt them," he said. "Once we have more clarity from the UK, we will prepare a political declaration on the framework for the future relationship to accompany the withdrawal agreement in the autumn." It comes as the Government suffered three more heavy defeats in the House of Lords over its flagship Brexit legislation. In the main reverse, peers backed a cross-party move to retain key EU human rights provisions on exiting the union.
It is now up to the UK to come up with its vision for the future Michel Barnier
Earlier, Theresa May was forced to again insist the UK must leave the customs union after Brexit in order to strike trade deals around the world after a massive defeat on the issue in the Lords previously. Both sides want plans for future relations to be set out by October along with a legally-binding treaty detailing the terms of the UK's withdrawal agreement. Mr Barnier said the rest of the bloc had made clear it wants a partnership that is as close as possible but Britain's position on quitting the single market and customs union along with other policies meant it is "closing doors". "The European Council has made clear that, if the UK's red lines were to evolve, the Union would be prepared to reconsider its offer," he said. "We are flexible, never dogmatic. We are open for business.
PA Mrs May is set to face calls from leading Brexiteers Boris Johnson, David Davis and Liam Fox
"But of course any change from the UK must respect our principles, the principles we have built with the UK over 45 years. "In particular, the four freedoms of the single market go together. They are all indivisible. "You cannot have free movement of services without free movement of goods, and so forth. And you cannot have free movement of goods without free movement of people." Speaking on a local election campaign visit on Monday morning, Mrs May insisted that would not change course. She said arrangements which are as "frictionless as possible" with the EU and the ability to strike trade deals around the world were both achievable under the proposals set out by the Government.
On a visit to a firm in the West Midlands, she said: "Coming out of the customs union means that we will be free to have those deals, deals that suit the UK. "But I also recognise the importance to businesses like this of being able to have as frictionless a border as possible into the European Union." Downing Street insisted the Government's position had not changed since Mrs May delivered her Mansion House speech in March. Those plans included two options, either a "customs partnership" effectively collecting duties for Brussels for goods arriving in the UK but intended for EU markets or a "highly streamlined" arrangement making use of technology and regulatory co-operation. But Mrs May is set to face calls from leading Brexiteers Boris Johnson, David Davis and Liam Fox to abandon her preferred form of customs deal, according to The Times.
GETTY/JACK TAYLOR Michel Barnier has said that more clarity is needed in regards to Brexit
A showdown is expected to come at a meeting of the Cabinet Brexit committee scheduled for Wednesday when the trio will tell the PM that the "customs partnership" would be unworkable, the report said. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "We have put forward two options. They were set out in the Mansion House speech. "Those are still the two options we are moving forward with." He added: "We think both of the two options which we have put forward can provide solutions to the Irish border and to having a smooth customs arrangement with the EU."
EU Summit 2018 LIVE pictures from Brussels Fri, March 23, 2018 Theresa May sought to unite EU leaders in condemnation of Moscow over the poisoning of a former Russian spy, but she faces resistance from states keen to protect their Kremlin ties Play slideshow REUTERS 1 of 17 Jean-Claude Juncker and Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May