On Tuesday 18 July, the European Commission declined to comment on the information published on the evening of Monday 17 July by Politico.eu that Michel Barnier was planning to issue a threat his British opposite numbers, on Tuesday 18 July, to break off negotiations unless Theresa May's government submits its position on the financial settlement.
To date, the EU has published nine negotiating documents compared to five for the British government and Barnier is getting impatient over the financial question, the progress on which, alongside that on citizens' rights and the Irish issue, will be decisive in moving to the second phase of the negotiations on the future bilateral relationship.
According to various estimates, the bill could total between €50 and €100 billion, although the Commission has never put forward any specific figures, but only a calculation methodology. According to Politico, Barnier may tell his guests that he is refusing to talk until they have made a counter proposal, but the Commission declined to be drawn on this information on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, discussions continued on aspects of the divorce, a discussion having also been held on Ireland. Negotiations will run until Thursday, when a press conference is scheduled with Barnier at the end of this second round, possibly alongside David Davis, the British negotiator-in-chief.
The European Commission did, however, stress on Tuesday that Davis's early departure from the negotiating session that began on Monday morning was “not a problem”. “We do not feel that this is a problem and we are not worried. The chief negotiators do not have to be present all the time”, explained Margaritis Schinas, in response to a question as to whether the Commission has any doubts as the seriousness of the British side. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)