By Michel Rose
PARIS, July 22 (Reuters) – France’s Europe minister Clement Beaune rejected on Thursday Britain’s request to renegotiate the Brexit deal governing commerce with Northern Eire, dismissing British accusations of European dogmatism as a “tall story”.
Britain on Wednesday demanded a brand new deal from the European Union to manipulate post-Brexit commerce with the British province, saying it already had trigger to step away from components of the deal that it struck with Brussels solely final yr.
London accuses Brussels of being too purist, or legalistic, in decoding what the deal means for some items shifting from Britain to Northern Eire.
The European Fee earlier on Thursday stated it could not renegotiate the deal and work on “inventive options”, however the first response from France confirmed some members states had been getting impatient with Britain.
“The European Union has devoted days and nights for the previous 5 years to search out pragmatic options with the UK,” Beaune instructed Reuters. “The narrative of a inflexible and dogmatic Europe is a tall story.”
France has persistently taken a tough line in Brexit negotiations, usually expressing out loud what different member states stated privately.
Beaune, the rising star of the French authorities, is a detailed ally of President Emmanuel Macron. He first labored as Macron’s Europe adviser earlier than being named a cupboard minister, and has adopted Brexit negotiations behind the scenes from the onset.
“We’ve got been working for months to make the protocol requested by the British authorities and voted by the British parliament work,” he stated.
“We will nonetheless work on sensible options, however not empty the protocol of its substance or renegotiate it,” he added.
“How may we renegotiate with a companion that can’t respect its personal commitments?” stated Beaune.
(Reporting by Michel Rose; modifying by Christian Lowe and Chris Reese and Kirsten Donovan)
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