EU negotiator warns of ‘EXPLOSIVE CRISIS’ if Britain refuses to pay Brexit bill/amp
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EU negotiator warns of ‘EXPLOSIVE CRISIS’ if Britain refuses to pay Brexit bill
MICHEL Barnier has warned of the prospect of an “explosive” political crisis if Britain leaves the EU without paying a multi-billion pound Brexit bill.
DAILY EXPRESS - By WILL KIRBY
PUBLISHED: 03:08, Thu, May 4, 2017 | UPDATED: 11:34, Thu, May 4, 2017
Barnier BLASTS 'illusion' of Brexit costs
As Brussels bureaucrats take an increasingly hard line stance in their approach to Brexit talks, the EU’s chief negotiator warned the bloc could face major problems if Theresa May resists demands to pay a divorce fee, rumoured to be around £85billion (€100billion).
EU leaders have suggested that the Brexit bill would simply be a case of ‘settling the accounts’ and forcing the UK to honour previous commitments.
Mr Barnier has warned that the EU could face an 'explosive situation' if Brexit talks deteriorate. Branding the payment “incontestable”, Mr Barnier said: “Imagine what would happen if this were not to take place.
“We have to be rigorous in our approach to clearing these accounts. Otherwise the situation might be explosive if we have to stop programs. “Can you imagine the political problems which might arise?”
Theresa May hosted European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and chief negotiator Michel Barnier at Downing Street for the first face-to-face talks since she triggered the two-year process of withdrawing from the EU. Michel Barnier came to London last week with Juncker for talks with Theresa May
Britain’s net annual contribution to the EU - which stands at around £8billion - represents a large proportion of the Brussels budget and member states must now establish plans to plug the financial hole that Brexit will leave.
After the Financial Times reported the EU has increased its Brexit bill to an eye-watering £85billion (€100billion) after France and Germany made stricter demands on how much the UK should pay, Brexit Secretary David Davis rejected suggestions that Britain would be willing to pay the eye-watering sum.
Asked what would happen if Britain left the EU without a deal, he responded: “In the walk-away circumstance, there is nothing to be paid.”
After news of the huge bill emerged, the Prime Minister accused European politicians of making “threats” and meddling in the upcoming General Election.
She said: "Britain's negotiating position in Europe has been misrepresented in the continental press.
"The European Commission's negotiating stance has hardened. Threats against Britain have been issued by European politicians and officials.
"All of these acts have been deliberately timed to affect the result of the general election that will take place on 8 June."
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