Warning Issued by EPP Leader to Johnson Regarding Non-Attainment of Brexit Agreement
In the ongoing Brexit saga, negotiations between British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the European Commission remain unresolved, with significant tensions still present as we move through mid-2025. The Brexit deal, which has gained some parliamentary approval in the UK, is currently stalled due to procedural disagreements over its scrutiny by MPs.
The key issues causing the Brexit row, as highlighted by Manfred Weber, the leader of the European People's Party in the European Parliament, focus on the political and legal implications of how the UK government is handling sovereignty and lawmaking post-Brexit. Johnson has criticized perceived ongoing EU influence, claiming proposals could allow the EU to retain power over UK laws.
The core dispute concerns EU competence and the balance of control between the UK and the EU, especially regarding treaties like the UK-France migration deal that may affect common EU rules. The European Commission retains oversight and can challenge arrangements it deems conflicting with EU laws.
Manfred Weber has emphasized that if the integrity of the EU's internal market is at risk, there can be no approval. He has also stated that with the Brexit agreement, it's now or never. However, he has not specified any new concessions or compromises that could potentially move the negotiations forward.
On Saturday evening, a top-level meeting took place between Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, but it did not yield a breakthrough. Weber has continued to press Johnson to show flexibility in the Brexit row, but the British Prime Minister's response remains unclear.
Weber has warned that letting the Brexit agreement fail would be a betrayal of the future of Johnson's country. He has also implied that Johnson's actions demonstrate whether he is guided by responsibility or ideology. If a solution is to be found, it seems clear that both parties will need to find a way to bridge their differences and respect each other's concerns.
[1] BBC News. (2025). Brexit: What's happening with the bill in the Commons? [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-56590660
[2] The Guardian. (2025). Boris Johnson's Brexit deal: what is it and what does it mean? [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/apr/01/boris-johnsons-brexit-deal-what-is-it-and-what-does-it-mean
[3] The Telegraph. (2025). Boris Johnson accuses EU of trying to 'enslave' Britain in Brexit row [online] Available at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/04/01/boris-johnson-accuses-eu-trying-enslave-britain-brexit-row/
[4] The Independent. (2025). What is the European Commission's role in Brexit? [online] Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-eu-commission-what-is-its-role-a8934516.html
- The ongoing Brexit negotiations, rooted in policy-and-legislation and politics, have resulted in significant other general-news concerning the UK's sovereignty and lawmaking post-Brexit.
- In a standoff over the Brexit agreement, Manfred Weber, a key figure in the European Parliament, highlighted the EU's focus on the integrity of its internal market and the potential conflict with UK laws, a point of contention that falls under policy-and-legislation and general-news.
