Michel Barnier the EU’s chief negotiator has delivered a message to Boris Johnson. He said that the EU will be ready for a no-deal Brexit, should Johnson choose that strategy.
He stressed a no-deal scenario is not the EUs preference and is waiting to hear from the new Tory leader of his plans.
Barnier who was attending the European Parliament’s Brexit steering group (BSG) to discuss Johnson told the BBC, “It’s a very important moment for Brexit,” he told the BBC in Brussels.
“We look forward to hearing what the new prime minister Boris Johnson wants, what are the choices of the UK.
“Is it an orderly Brexit? This is the choice; the preference of the EU and we have worked for an orderly Brexit all along the last three years.
“Is it a no-deal Brexit? A no-deal Brexit will never be, never, the choice of the EU. But we are prepared.
“And for an orderly Brexit we will work along the next few weeks and months with the new UK Government in the best possible way in a very constructive spirit to facilitate the ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement.”
However, Johnson has previously said that the withdrawal agreement is dead, and the UK will leave on the 31 October with or without a deal.
The BSG said that the statements Johnson gave during the leadership campaign had “greatly increased the risk of a disorderly exit of the UK.”
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