Theresa May slaps down Eurocrat’s barmy bid to make us negotiate EU exit in FRENCH
Downing Street made it clear talks will not be in a foreign language as PM insists she will get ‘right deal’ for Britain
EU negotiator Michel Barnier yesterday called for Brexit talks to be conducted in French — in another hostile act from Brussels eurocrats.
Theresa May, who has had a bruising first EU summit, immediately slapped down the suggestion.
Questioned on the plan, the PM snorted and hit back: “We will conduct the negotiations in the way that is going to make sure that we get the right deal for the United Kingdom.”
Downing Street aides swiftly made it clear they will conduct the two years of talks in English. A senior No 10 source said: “We will discuss Brexit in English. The Prime Minister was clear there is to be no doubt about that.”
Last night ex-French foreign minister and long-running British foe Barnier rowed back. He said he has yet to make the formal bid for British diplomats to speak only in French — but was keeping the option open.
In a tweet in English, he wrote: “Never expressed myself on negotiation language. Work as often in EN as FR. Linguistic regime to be set at start — to be agreed btw negotiators.”
As an EU commissioner until 2014, Barnier had repeated run-ins with London as he sought to tighten regulation over its financial services industry.
His failed ambush came with EU leaders livid at some British Cabinet Ministers’ plans for a hard Brexit.
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The PM was repeatedly forced to fight her corner, saying last night as she left Brussels: “We will continue to play our full role in the EU and I can assure you I haven’t been backwards in coming forwards on issues.”
French lost its status to English as the EU’s main working language after northern and eastern states joined in the past two decades. Even officials from the EU’s founding powers France and Germany now communicate with each other mainly in English.
