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Leo Varadkar and Bruno le Maire see the future of the UK very differently
European leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos have offered different deals that they deem possible for the UK after Brexit with member states at odds over the future.
The French Minister of the Economy and Finance, Bruno Le Maire, said he wants the EU to secure a deal with the UK on its Brexit transition process.
Mr Maire made it very clear that the UK cannot keep its access to the single market and refuse to accept the rulings of the European Court of Justice and the free movement of workers.
Live from inside DAVOS Summit 2018
Thu, January 25, 2018
Behind the scenes at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland
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US President Donald Trump and Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May attend a bilateral meeting during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, eastern Switzerland, on January 25, 2018
I told Philip Hammond very clearly that Britain cannot have a pick and choose model
He said: “It is a dead end. I told Philip Hammond very clearly that Britain cannot have a pick and choose model.
“It is not possible.
“The European Union is a comprehensive framework.”
The French Prime Minister shares the position of the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier.
Brexit minister David Davis said he expected Britain and the EU would agree to a transition deal on exiting the bloc by the end of March.
The EU’s chief Brexit negotiation Michel Barnier in December said the future free trade agreement between the bloc and Britain would have to be along the same lines as the one the EU has with Canada.
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David Davis and Michel Barnier are thrashing out a Brexit deal
But Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said neither the Norwegian model nor the Canadian model would fit the UK.
He said: “It’s difficult to compare it to Norway, which is a relatively small country or a country like Canada, which is on a different continent.”
The Taoiseach proposed a “Norway Plus” bespoke arrangement.
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Theresa May is under pressure to secure a Brexit deal
Mr Varadkar said: “Ireland would like Britain’s relationship with the EU to be closer than that of non-member Norway.
“It will have to be a specific agreement as there is no precedent. Of course as Ireland we want that to be as close as possible – we would have it ‘Norway-plus’ but I think we have to get into the detail now of what that means.”
The Taoiseach said there should be a solution which allows the UK to remain close to the customs union and the single market without completely being in either.
He said: “Perhaps we can negotiate something that isn’t very different to that.”
The issue of EU rules after Brexit is particularly important for the Irish government because different regulations could complicate the situation on the Northern Ireland border.
British negotiators have been given until March to decide what they want the future relationship with the EU to look like.