William Hague: The EU is giving Britain 'the runaround' in Brexit talks
2 min read
Britain is being given "the runaround" by the European Union in the Brexit negotiations so far, according to William Hague.
The former Conservative leader said Brussels was successfully piling pressure on the Government to make concessions as the deadline for quitting the EU approaches.
But he insisted that Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron will eventually have to talk directly with Theresa May to iron out the differences between the two sides.
At the moment, Michel Barnier is negotiating with the UK on behalf of the EU's other 27 member states.
Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Lord Hague – who is also a former Foreign Secretary – said: “Issues are now coming up which are so fundamental that only the German Chancellor and the French President talking to Theresa May can fully resolve them. But if she tries to discuss matters with them she is told the talks must be conducted with Michel Barnier at the European Commission.
“When he in turn is confronted by choices, he says that his mandate is set by the 27 heads of government and he can't change it.
“For now, this circular way of negotiating suits the EU side. It gives Britain the runaround and increases the pressure on the Government. It allows them to be as obstructive as they wish without seeming to be.
“The moment is rapidly approaching, however, when leading EU governments will have to make some serious interventions in the talks if they are going to act in their own best interests.”
Mr Barnier yesterday said he was "concerned" at the rate of progress in the Brexit talks, as the latest round of negotiations kicked off in Brussels.
Brexit Secretary David Davis told his opposite number that the UK wanted to see "imagination and flexibility" from the EU.
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