On Thursday 22 August, in Paris, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was “encouraged” by his meeting the day before in Berlin with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, according to whom there is still time for the British to find workable solutions before the end of October to avoid the return of a physical border between Ireland and Northern Ireland without using the backstop provided for in the agreement for an organised Brexit.
Mr Johnson appraised the Berlin meeting positively in a statement made alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, who on Thursday welcomed him for a bilateral working meeting.
Ahead of this Paris meeting, the British Prime Minister reiterated his wish to reach an agreement with the EU by 31 October. “Of course I want an agreement, and I think we will find one”, he said, repeating that “technical solutions exist” to replicate the effects of the backstop, such as electronic asset control systems.
“Of course, we fully understand the need for the EU to preserve the integrity of the single market”, commented the British Prime Minister. And the United Kingdom has no intention of carrying out border controls between Ireland and Northern Ireland, he stressed, convinced that such border controls are not “necessary to preserve the integrity of the single market”.
On the previous day, Angela Merkel raised the possibility of reaching an agreement with the United Kingdom by the end of October and asked London to present alternative solutions within a month. She recalled that the ‘backstop’ solution was supposed to be found in the context of the post-Brexit transition phase and the preparation of the future bilateral relationship, which at this stage was planned to last two years.
“We may be able to find [a solution] in the next thirty days, why not...”, she said.
On Thursday in Paris, Emmanuel Macron recalled the EU's position, particularly on the backstop, which is an “essential guarantee” for the integrity of the European single market and for Ireland's stability. But he also said he was open to hearing the proposals from his British counterpart.
The EU, Mr Macron stressed, has always said that it was “ready to discuss the future relationship”, an element that “in the end is the most important”. It is up to the United Kingdom to “choose its destiny”, he added.
The French president, who mocked the “image of the toughest gang member” of the Twenty-Seven that is often associated with him, also warned that the EU is also ready for an exit without agreement by 31 October.
These bilateral talks are taking place ahead of the Biarritz G7 summit, where the Brexit issue will be discussed on the sidelines. On Sunday 25 August, the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, will meet with Mr Johnson and others. It will be a question of listening to what the British propose and possibly receiving details on these famous alternative arrangements defended by the Prime Minister. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)