Brexit: EU leaders drop pledge to 'intensify' trade talks as Boris Johnson threatens walk-out

EU leaders downgrade urgent language around Brexit talks plan

EU leaders have dropped a pledge to "intensify" Brexit negotiations after this week's summit, in signs that Brussels is prepared to call Boris Johnson's bluff on his threat to walk away from trade talks.

A leaked draft of conclusions prepared by officials ahead of the Thursday meeting had urged Michel Barnier to step up the pace of negotiations to reach a deal.

But the final version seen by The Independent, which was drawn up after further behind the scenes negotiation, has a downgraded Brexit section with all reference to intensification removed.

The conclusions now simply say that the "European Council invites the Unionʼs chief negotiator to continue negotiations in the coming weeks, and calls on the UK to make the necessary moves to make an agreement possible".

Mr Johnson on Wednesday night spoke with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and her Council counterpart Charles Michel, telling them he was disappointed at the progress so far.

The prime minister said he would wait until after the summit had concluded on Friday to decide whether he would walk out of talks and prompt a no-deal. He had previously said in September that the summit was a deadline for reaching an agreement.

The change to the draft conclusions, which are not yet final and could be changed further by leaders later on Thursday, suggests hawks on the European Council have been successful in arguing for firmer treatment of Britain – even if only in tone.

Arriving at the summit, French president Emmanuel Macron said: “It is possible that there will be no agreement,” adding: “We are prepared for it.”

German chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters: “We want a deal, but obviously not at any price. It has to be a fair agreement that serves the interests of both sides. This is worth every effort.”

This phase of Brexit talks, to strike a trade deal to go with the divorce deal struck last year, has been overshadowed on both sides of the Channel by the Covid-19 pandemic – with a resulting lack of political urgency and attention so far.

Ahead of the Thursday meeting French, German, and Italian employers’ organisations urged leaders to be “pragmatic” to reach a deal, warning that a no-deal harm jobs on their side of the channel too.

"A brutal split between continental Europe and the UK would add further difficulties to the difficulties and would undermine tens of thousands of jobs and activities in all our countries,"  the presidents of the Federation of German Industries, the General Confederation of Italian Industry, and the Movement of the Enterprises of France warned.