Wolfgang Münchau
The leaked dinner conversion between Theresa May and Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, was the opening round in what will be a tough fight. Juncker said he had become “10 times more pessimistic” after the dinner, a comment best treated as tactical noise. The European Union is a formidable negotiator. Its members have agreed a common position. The EU and the UK differ on issues like the timing of the trade negotiations and money, of course. There will be no early agreement —there never is. Both sides will need to compromise.