‘Blackmail’: Brexit Secretary Slams EU Divorce Bill that Includes Aid to Africa

The Brexit ‘divorce bill’ demanded by the European Union (EU) includes payments towards aid to Africa, loans to Ukraine, and expensive environment projects including bridges for wildlife.

The issue was highlighted by an acrimonious press conference Thursday when the UK’s Brexit Secretary and the EU’s chief negotiator clashed over payments and the EU’s refusal to discuss a future relationship until the money is paid.

Following the clash, International Trade Secretary Liam Fox deployed more hard-hitting rhetoric, insisting the UK must not allow itself to be “blackmailed” by the EU over the bill.

“We can’t be blackmailed into paying a price on the first part [the divorce fee],” he told ITV News.

“We think we should begin discussions on the final settlement because that’s good for business, and it’s good for the prosperity both of the British people and of the rest of the people of the European Union.”

Yesterday afternoon, Brexit Secretary David Davis said “we have a duty to interrogate” the bill on behalf of UK taxpayers and said the EU must act “in accordance with law”.

The EU’s Michel Barnier hit back, claiming Britain’s refusal to honour alleged long-term spending commitments made before the referendum was damaging trust.

It “would not be fair” if the remaining 27 member states were forced to make up the shortfall left by Britain’s withdrawal from the seven-year EU budget round that ended in 2020, he said.

He insisted there were “joint obligations towards third countries”, including long-term loans to Ukraine and development programmes in Africa, the Caribbean, and Pacific countries.

He also mentioned environmentalist policies in other EU nations. “We have jointly committed to support innovative enterprises and green infrastructure in European regions until 2020.

“These are not recognised by the UK as legal obligations. With such uncertainty, how can we build trust and start discussing a future relationship? We need to address together these issues seriously and rigorously,” Mr. Barnier said.