Michel Barnier in dire warning as he lists retaliation EU will take if Brexit deal broken
FORMER European Union negotiator Michel Barnier has warned that Paris and Brussels are ready to dole out punishment if Britain breaks the Brexit deal.
Brexit: Barnier says agreement ‘not respected by London’
Michel Barnier has issued a dire warning to the British, as he listed off a series of retaliation measures that the EU could soon take to punish the UK. The Brexit negotiator-turned-challenger for the French presidency made the remarks during an interview on the French TV channel LCI. He said that the UK has refused to respect the Brexit agreement, leaving the EU and France little choice but to draw up plans to retaliate.
Mr Barnier, who is challenging Mr Macron for the French presidency in 2022, said he would not hesitate to act in the current situation.
The presidential candidate pointed to tariffs on certain products or "controlling more British ships" as he explained the EU's plan.
He told LCI: "You have an agreement. You have a very precise, extremely precise agreement and is not respected by London.
"It is London that is responsible and therefore the one who takes serious responsibilities for the future relations that we are going to have."
JUST IN: French fishermen vow to block Channel Tunnel TOMORROW
The EU's former chief Brexit negotiator added: "And I, if I am President of the Republic, am going to have with this great country, friend and neighbour, and the European Union is going to have.
"So we have retaliatory measures and compensatory measures. We can restore tariffs on certain products or we can control more British ships.
"You can cross-suspend parts of the agreement."
Earlier this week, Mr Barnier complained France had lost control of immigration and that a sense of impunity prevailed.
Michel Barnier criticises ‘absolutely inadmissible’ letter
He urged a radical reform to the EU and a tough approach to migrants
Mr Barnier told French television broadcaster TF1LeJT that the French borders "don’t work" and suggested a "change European policies and have real borders".
But the veteran politician also called on the UK to "receive these migrants".
DON'T MISS:
Grant Shapps baffled after Sky News host blames Brexit deal for crisis [INTERVIEW]
BBCQT erupts in laughter over audience member's Boris Johnson analogy [VIDEO]
Covid LIVE: New variant panic as WHO assesses highly contagious new strain [LIVE BLOG]
This comes after the deaths of 27 people in the Channel earlier this week.
The sinking of the boat on Wednesday marked the biggest loss of life by drowning in the English Channel on record.
Victims included 17 men, seven women - one of whom was pregnant - and three children.
Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and the European Commission are all due to attend Sunday's summit in Calais in a bid to resolve the crisis.