On Monday 23 October, the European Commission denied comments that appeared in the German daily newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) attributed to Jean-Claude Juncker, to the effect that the Commission president described Theresa May as weakened and begging, at a dinner in Brussels on Monday 16 October between the British prime minister and the 'Article 50' negotiation team – the EU negotiator-in-chief, Michel Barnier, Juncker and his head of cabinet, Martin Selmayr.
Selmayr, previously accused of leaking details of a dinner described as “disastrous” in London on 26 April of this year between the same participants, took to Twitter to deny being the source of the comments published by the FAZ.
The newspaper reported that Juncker described May as having come to “beg for help” and that she had appeared “discouraged” and very weak. “Certain individuals wish to serve their own political agenda or undermine the negotiations”, said Margaritis Schinas, Commission spokesperson, adding that Juncker would “never have used those words” or said anything of the kind.
The spokesperson also dismissed accusations that the EU was being intentionally punitive. “We have said many times that we are working for a balanced agreement”.
Meeting in Brussels on Friday 20 October, the European leaders made a gesture towards May by agreeing to start discussions between themselves on the future trade relationship with London (see EUROPE 11888). (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)