Brexit Bulletin: Don't hassle the Hof

Good afternoon.

David Davis may have thought he was setting out over the weekend the implications of the EU’s mantra “nothing is agreed until everything is” by describing to Andrew Marr what had been agreed last week as a “statement of intent more than anything else”. But European politicians interpreted his words as a statement of intent to renege on what has already been promised, so they didn't like it.

Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament’s voluble Brexit pointman, branded his words “unacceptable” and accused him of “really undermining trust” between EU and British negotiators. The Belgian MEP signalled that his colleagues would respond by toughening up the resolution they’re poised to push through tomorrow, calling for progress onto the next stage of Brexit talks "only.. if the UK government... fully respects" the commitments it has made so far. Mr Davis has been swift to contact ‘the Hof’, as he is known in European circles, declaring on Twitter that he told “my friend” that he wanted the text to be converted into something of legal significance “as soon as possible”.

The British government is not just having to mend fences with European parliamentarians. The EU27 are inclined to approve “minister Davis proof” guidelines, as a senior EU source put it, to move talks on this week. But they’ll take their time considering trade, as member states have decided today to not produce guidelines about it until March at earliest, which suggests both sides would have to talk about other things like the terms of Britain’s desired transition until then. This may not be so bad for the UK side, Peter Foster points out, as they feel that the extra time gives the EU27 a better chance to work out what they want on trade as well. Such a process will see "member states' interests being pitted directly against each other," he argues.

Anticipation is mounting ahead of the European Council summit later this week. President Donald Tusk has advised EU leaders ahead of the gathering to move talks on, but warned that there will be a “furious race against time” to determine Britain’s transition period and its future relationship over the months that follow. Brexit has shown, I note online, how disproportionately angry European politicians can get about their British counterparts. Michel Barnier called for everyone to "remain cautious and calm" this afternoon. As long as Mr Davis avoids winding up Mr Verhofstadt and co again, talks should move swiftly on.

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