Michel Barnier Quotes

We are open to work on a permanent customs union should the UK decide to take this path

[<nowiki/>Theresay May's plans] would be the end of the single market and the European project

The EU is prepared to offer Britain a partnership such as there never has been with any other third country

[The Chequers plan] is useful because it clearly defines what the wishes are for the UK for future relations.

There are extremely serious consequences of leaving the single market and it hasn't been explained to the British people.

The UK's decision to opt out of free movement rules and largely end the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice means that the UK cannot take part in the European Arrest Warrant

On the EU side, we had intense discussions with EU member states on the need to guarantee the integrity of the EU's single market, while keeping that border fully open. In this sense, the [Irish border] backstop is the maximum amount of flexibility that the EU can offer to a non-member state.

To be clear: without a [border] backstop, there can be no withdrawal agreement

We want EU citizens in Britain to have the same rights as British citizens who live in the EU

It's not about punishment, it is not about revenge. Basically, we are implementing the decision taken by the United Kingdom to leave the European Union, and unravel 43 years of patiently-built relations. I will do all I can to put emotion to one side and stick to the facts, the figures, and the legal basis, and work with the United Kingdom to find an agreement in that frame of mind.

I have a state of mind - not aggressive... but I'm not naïve.

No deal will be a very bad deal.

The single market is our main economic public good. There will be no damaging it, no unravelling what we have achieved together with the UK.

[There are currently only two Brexit options - the PM's deal or no deal. Even if MPs decided to take no deal off the table, it would not stop it from happening unless there was] a positive majority for another solution.

[A deal on the common travel area between the UK and Republic of Ireland must] respect both the integrity of the single market... and the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts