EU's Chief Brexit Negotiator Says "Britain Chose To Be Alone" In The Face Of Terror Attacks

The EU's chief Brexit negotiator has called for an "ambitious" defence partnership with the UK after Brexit.

He has warned that there must be "no horse-trading" with the security of Europe's citizens.

Michel Barnier set out the EU's hopes for a "broad, beneficial and balanced" post-Brexit security relationship.

Under that, the UK will be able voluntarily to participate in European missions and operations, joint armaments programmes and exchanges on intelligence and cyber-warfare.

But he made clear that the UK will lose "levers for wielding influence" over European security.

Security and defence are likely to loom larger in Brexit negotiations in 2018.

Mr Barnier left no doubt that Britain's decision to leave the EU had helped clear the way for the development of a Defence and Security Union which will see the remaining 27 states co-operate more closely than before.

Mr Barnier said the EU now recognised it needs to be able to defend itself, rather than relying purely on the transatlantic NATO alliance:

“Our aim - autonomous and united European defence, which means a Union capable of acting by itself and always supportive in its alliances."

"The construction of a 'Europe of Defence' has begun. Obviously, we will not wait for the United Kingdom to implement it, but when the time comes we will be ready to co-operate with the United Kingdom.

"This partnership will be in our best interests since it is what the European citizens expect and it will contribute to the stability and security of our continent and our neighbourhood."

Mr Barnier said the vote for Brexit came at a time when Europe had suffered a series of terror attacks, amid calls for solidarity to fight the Islamic State terror group.

"Never had the need to be together, to protect ourselves together, to act together been so strong, so manifest," he said.

"Yet, rather than stay shoulder to shoulder with the Union, the British chose to be on their own again."