The election of a new British prime minister will not change the accord on Britain’s departure from the bloc agreed between the EU and the outgoing premier in London, a European Commission spokesman said on Tuesday.
Asked about a pledge from Boris Johnson, the favourite to succeed Theresa May, to withhold billions in liabilities owed to the European Union’s budget, the spokesman said: “Everybody knows what is on the table. What is on the table has been approved by all member states and the election of a new prime minister will not change the parameters.”
Germany’s Europe Minister Michael Roth reiterated the position separately.
“The EU and its member states cannot be blackmailed,” Roth told Reuters. “I see no willingness to restart negotiations from the beginning. The candidates would do well to bear that in mind in the course of their internal party campaigns.”
After three years of political deadlock over Brexit, the ruling Conservative Party is picking a new leader from 10 candidates and hopes to have a new prime minister in place by the end of July.
Several candidates have promised to get more advantageous terms for Britain’s exit than May secured.
