a fortnight of political upheaval, Theresa May enters 10 Downing Street as David Cameron’s successor. The daughter of a vicar, like Angela Merkel she has the reputation of being a tenacious and determined woman. Equipped with experience gained as Home Secretary in David Cameron’s government, Mrs May is, after Margaret Thatcher, the UK’s second female Prime Minister. Like the ‘Iron Lady’, as a minister she had no qualms about taking very tough positions, openly admitting that she wanted to create a ‘hostile environment’ to discourage illegal immigration, for instance. She also advocated the UK’s withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights. During the referendum campaign she paid lip service to Remain, while leaving room for ambiguity. The new Prime Minister now says that she intends to ‘make a success of Brexit’. She declares herself in favour of a clean break: ‘There must be no attempts to remain inside the EU, no attempts to rejoin it through the back door, and no second referendum.’
The government is expanded with the introduction of a new portfolio: Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union. The position is given to David Davis, a staunch Conservative whom I know, as he was my counterpart as Minister of State for Europe between 1995 and 1997. At the time, we were both members of the Westendorp Group responsible for drafting the Treaty of Amsterdam. There is a larger-than-life side to David, a heartiness even – a sign of great self-confidence. Since working together, he has become a staunch Eurosceptic and an advocate of a ‘hard’ Brexit. It seems this will be a hard-fought game.
Theresa May appears to be well aware of the challenge that lies ahead: ‘[O]ur country needs strong, proven leadership – to steer us through this period of economic and political uncertainty, and to negotiate the best possible terms as we leave the European Union.’ ‘We will forge a bold new positive role for ourselves in the world.’
Wednesday, 27 July 2016: Provocation?
At the most recent meeting of the College of European Commissioners, before the August break, Jean-Claude Juncker proposed my nomination. In the twenty days since then, there have been no leaks. President Juncker has secured the support of Angela Merkel, François Hollande and Donald Tusk. In a press release today, the European Commission finally announces the name of its ‘Chief Negotiator’ in the discussions that must follow with the United Kingdom.
The President carefully clarifies a few points regarding internal organization: ‘Michel will have access to all Commission resources necessary to perform his tasks. He will report directly to me, and I will invite him to brief the College on a regular basis so as to keep my team abreast of the negotiations. I am sure that he will live up to this new challenge and help us to develop a new partnership with the United Kingdom after it has left the European Union.’
The announcement is widely reported in the media. The Commission has thrown its support behind a man of politics, a former European Commissioner, and has stated its intention to stand alongside him and play its part. And, of course, to work with the member states of the Union and the Council, on the one hand, and the European Parliament, on the other.
On the other side of the Channel, the news is greeted with great surprise. And, as always, the tabloids and the conservative media, which had already dubbed me ‘the most dangerous man in Europe’ when I was appointed as Commissioner for Financial Regulation, are having a field day. Even the Independent opines that ‘Mr Barnier’s appointment looks like a provocative act by Jean-Claude Juncker’.
Monday, 8 August 2016: First names
From the terrace of a Sicilian villa where I am spending a few days’ holiday with my wife Isabelle and a few friends, I begin to put together my team.
I need one or two competent deputies who command respect in all departments of the Commission. My former Head of Cabinet Olivier Guersent recommends a young French woman, Stéphanie Riso, an economist who has worked in several Commissioners’ cabinets on monetary and budgetary issues. I call her and she gives me an agreement in principle. She is a lively and direct woman who doesn’t mince her words, and who will be particularly useful in helping me negotiate the explosive issue of the financial settlement with the British.
I have no intention of putting together an entirely French team, of course. We will meet on 31 August in Brussels to get organized. Georg Riekeles, whom I called during the summer, will also join us. Georg is as loyal as they come, and I had immediately asked him to accompany me in this new project.
Wednesday, 31 August 2016: Trio
Stéphanie, Georg and I prepare for my scheduled meeting later this afternoon with Jean-Claude Juncker’s Head of Cabinet, Martin Selmayr. It’s clear what is required here: we must be as proactive as possible, otherwise the structure and personnel of my team will end up being imposed ‘from above’.
First priority: to appoint my deputy. We draw up a shortlist, at the top of which is a senior European civil servant of German nationality, well known and well respected, a former adviser to Pascal Lamy, and with whom I worked a great deal during my first term as a Commissioner from 1999 to 2004: Sabine Weyand. Sabine has recently been appointed Deputy Director-General for Trade.
At 5.30pm I head up to ‘the thirteenth’, the presidential floor of the Berlaymont building, to meet with Martin Selmayr. With me I have a few initial slides outlining the major issues of the negotiations, the mandate of the task force and its structure. The meeting is brisk and straightforward. I make a point of mentioning Sabine’s name in connection with the post of deputy. Mr Selmayr’s response is unhesitating: ‘Good thinking. But she won’t be coming. She’s too useful where she is.’
In spite of this refusal, I call Sabine in the evening and she tells me that, naturally, she is attracted by the unusual prospect of the Brexit assignment. I inform her of Martin Selmayr’s reservations and ask her to make good use of her network. I will have Mr Selmayr on the line several times over the next few days, and finally, at the beginning of September, he will agree to let me recruit this brilliant woman, as adept politically as she is technically.
Thus a trio is swiftly formed at the head of my team. I will have alongside me these two strong women, not at all alike, with different but complementary personalities and convictions, both of whom command great respect. Sabine will be my deputy and Stéphanie will be our Director of Strategy, in charge of legal and budgetary affairs and relations with other institutions and with the European Parliament. The immediate signal sent both within and outside the Commission will be that a professional and highly competent team is in place here.
Sunday, 2 October 2016: Birmingham – Theresa May in the spotlight
It’s all happening!
The day after I took office, Theresa May speaks at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, unveiling some of her strategy and offering pledges to the most hard-line Brexit supporters.
The Prime Minister emphasizes her vision for the future relationship between the EU and the UK, calling for a free trade agreement with sector-specific provisions. This strategy may help the UK to keep open lines of communication with British citizens who have expressed their desire for the UK to regain full sovereignty over future legislation, to have powers to limit immigration, and to form new trade alliances.
As far as the EU is concerned, it would allow the integrity of the internal market and the four fundamental freedoms associated with it to be respected, while maintaining trade relations and close cooperation in certain sectors.
But let’s not be naive: this negotiation
