French minister trolls Boris Johnson over trade talks saying UK can't afford a 'second shock' after coronavirus and 'needs' a deal more than the EU
- Amelie de Montchalin insisted UK cannot afford 'second shock' after coronavirus
- French minister insisted that the EU does not need a trade deal as desperately
- Boris Johnson threatening to walk away from talks unless Brussels compromises
A French minister trolled Boris Johnson over trade talks today claiming the UK 'needs' a deal more than the EU.
European Affairs minister Amelie de Montchalin insisted the British cannot afford a 'second shock' after the coronavirus turmoil.
She said the UK would struggle to cope without access to the 'security net' and 'stimulus fund' of Brussels.
The jibes came after Boris Johnson held a virtual summit with EU commission president Ursula von der Leyen this week in a bid to break the impasse.
The bloc's demands on fishing rights and accepting their rules are the main sticking points, with the UK insisting it would rather walk away than give up control.
The leaders confirmed that the standstill transition period will end in December, and declared that negotiations will be 'intensified' in July.
European Affairs minister Amelie de Montchalin (left) trolled Boris Johnson (right) by insisting the British cannot afford a 'second shock' after the coronavirus turmoil
Turning up the heat, Ms de Montchalin told Europe 1 radio today: 'Those who need a deal the most are the British.
'They cannot withstand a second shock after the epidemic. They wouldn't have access to the security net that is Europe, they wouldn't have access to the stimulus fund,'
Mr Johnson said this week that he believes there is a 'very good' chance of a settlement 'provided we really focus now and get on and do it'.
But he added that the process cannot be allowed to drag on into the autumn 'as perhaps in Brussels they would like'. 'We cannot leave the EU and stay somehow controlled by EU law,' he said.
As tensions threatened to boil over, European Council president Charles Michel warned that Brussels will not accept a 'pig in a poke', saying it is 'essential' that the UK bows to EU standards on food and the environment.
Mr Michel said a 'broad and ambitious' agreement was in both sides' interests but the level playing field was 'essential'. The EU was 'ready to put a tiger in the tank but not to buy a pig in a poke'.
EU commission president Ursula von der Leyen (left) and council president Charles Michel (right) were on the conference call with Mr Johnson this week
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