Top European Union officials expressed determination on Tuesday to cooperate with Boris Johnson, the United Kingdom's next prime minister, on an orderly withdrawal of his country from the bloc. Chief negotiator Michel Barnier (pictured right) said the administration in Brussels is open to changes in the political declaration so that it complies with the framework set by the European Commission.
He wrote in a tweet that his team wants to work constructively with the new British leader to facilitate the ratification of the divorce agreement. "We are ready also to rework the agreed Declaration on a new partnership in line with #EUCO guidelines," Barnier wrote.
Frans Timmermans (left), the European Commission's first vice-president, stressed it would be "a tragedy for all sides" if so-called hard or no-deal Brexit isn't avoided. Both the UK and the rest of Europe "are going to suffer" in that case, in his words. The EU will stick with the existing deal, he asserted and claimed it is the best possible solution. Timmermans said decision-makers want to hear from Johnson when he arrives.
