Michel Barnier

Michel Barnier

Michel Bernard Barnier (born 9 January 1951) is a French politician who currently served as Prime Minister of France. He was the European Commission's Head of Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom (UK Task Force/UKTF) from 2019 to 2021. He previously served as Chief Negotiator, Task Force for the Preparation and Conduct of the Negotiations with the United Kingdom under Article 50 TEU (Task Force 50/TF50) from October 2016 to November 2019.

He has served in several French cabinet positions including Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries from 2007 to 2009, Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2004 to 2005, Minister of State for European Affairs from 1995 to 1997 and minister of the environment and way of life from 1993 to 1995. He served at European level as European Commissioner for Regional Policy from 1999 to 2004 and European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services from 2010 to 2014. He served as vice president of the European People's Party (EPP) from 2010 to 2015.

In August 2021, Barnier announced his candidacy for President of France in the 2022 French presidential election. He ran unsuccessfully for The Republicans' presidential nomination. He was appointed prime minister by Emmanuel Macron on 5 September 2024.

Quotes

2016

• Being a member of EU comes with rights and benefits. Third countries (non members as the UK will be after Brexit) can never have the same rights and benefits since they are not subject to the same obligations. The single market and its four freedoms (which includes freedom of movement) are indivisible. Cherry picking is not an option.
  • Brexit: EU negotiator says 'time's short' for reaching deal BBC News (6 December 2016)

2017

• The UK's departure from the EU would have consequences
  • EU's Barnier will 'work to avoid' Brexit hard border BBC News (11 May 2017)

• Nothing should put peace at risk
  • EU's Barnier will 'work to avoid' Brexit hard border BBC News (11 May 2017)

• This negotiation will not only be financial, legal or technical - in my view, it will first [be] human and social and economic,
  • Brexit Irish border answer can be found - EU's Barnier BBC News (12 May 2017)

• 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.
  • Brexit negotiations: Barnier rules out 'concessions' BBC News (19 June 2017)

• We must lift the uncertainty caused by Brexit
  • Brexit negotiations: Barnier rules out 'concessions' BBC News (19 June 2017)

• We want EU citizens in Britain to have the same rights as British citizens who live in the EU
  • Brexit: EU negotiator Barnier firm on citizens' rights BBC News (12 July 2017)

• I'm not hearing any whistling, just the clock ticking.
  • In repsonse to Boris Johnson saying the EU could "go whistle" if it wanted an "extortionate" divorce bill from the UK. Brexit: Jeremy Corbyn meets EU negotiator Michel Barnier BBC News (13 July 2017)

• There are extremely serious consequences of leaving the single market and it hasn't been explained to the British people.
  • Brexit: UK to be 'educated' about consequences, says Barnier BBC News (3 September 2017)

• I have a state of mind - not aggressive... but I'm not naïve.
  • Brexit: UK to be 'educated' about consequences, says Barnier BBC News (3 September 2017)

• We intend to teach people what leaving the single market means
  • Brexit: UK to be 'educated' about consequences, says Barnier BBC News (3 September 2017)

• [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
  • David Davis claims 'decisive steps forward' in Brexit talks BBC News (28 September 2017)

• No deal will be a very bad deal.
  • Deadlock over UK's Brexit bill, says EU's Michel Barnier BBC News (12 October 2017)

2018

• To be clear: without a [border] backstop, there can be no withdrawal agreement
  • Barnier warns of no Brexit deal without border backstop BBC News (30 April 2018)

• 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
  • UK 'can't keep European Arrest Warrant after Brexit' BBC News (19 June 2018)

• 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.
  • Michel Barnier: 'Realistic' Brexit plan needed BBC News (6 July 2018)

• The EU is prepared to offer Britain a partnership such as there never has been with any other third country
  • Back May's Brexit plan or risk no deal, David Lidington tells EU BBC News (29 August 2018)

• [Theresay May's plans] would be the end of the single market and the European project
  • Michel Barnier 'strongly opposed' to May's Brexit plan BBC News (2 September 2018)

• [The Chequers plan] is useful because it clearly defines what the wishes are for the UK for future relations.
  • Brexit: Barnier says agreement possible by early November BBC News (10 September 2018)

• It is not possible to get freedom for goods without freedom for services, in particular for the movement of people
  • Brexit: Barnier says agreement possible by early November BBC News (10 September 2018)

• Brexit was not our choice, it is the choice of the UK. Our proposal tries to help the UK in managing the negative fallout of Brexit in Northern Ireland in a way that respects the territorial integrity of the UK.
  • Brexit negotiators working 'day and night' for agreement BBC News (10 October 2018)

• We are still not there. There are still several issues which remain unresolved, including that of Ireland, and therefore what I understand is that more time is required to find this comprehensive deal and to reach this decisive progress which we need in order to finalise these negotiations on the orderly exit of the United Kingdom.
  • Brexit: 'No optimism' for summit breakthrough, says Donald Tusk BBC News (16 October 2018)

2019

• [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.
  • Rees-Mogg says reformed Brexit deal could win over critics BBC News (23 January 2019)

• We are open to work on a permanent customs union should the UK decide to take this path
  • Brexit: MPs voting on 22 May departure plan BBC News (29 March 2019)

• No deal was never our desire or intended scenario but the EU 27 is now prepared. It becomes day after day more likely.
  • Brexit: MPs push to prevent no-deal in law BBC News (2 April 2019)

• Everybody will have to pay a price - EU and UK - because there is no added value to Brexit. Brexit is a negative negotiation. It is a lose-lose game for everybody.
  • 10 things that stopped Brexit happening BBC News (18 July 2019)

• 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.
  • Brexit: Michel Barnier rejects demands for backstop to be axed BBC News (1 September 2019)