BRUSSELS, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Britain's reported plans to
override parts of its Brexit divorce agreement with the EU would
amount to "a desperate and ultimately self-defeating strategy",
a diplomat with the bloc said on Monday.
Talks on a new relationship from 2021 between the estranged
allies plunged into a fresh crisis on Monday after Britain
warned the European Union that it could effectively override the
divorce deal it signed earlier unless the bloc agrees to a free
trade deal by Oct. 15.
"'Pacta sunt servanda' meaning 'agreements must be kept' is
a fundamental principle in international law. If the UK chose
not to respect its international obligations, it would undermine
its international standing," said an EU diplomat.
"Who would want to agree trade deals with a country that
doesn't implement international treaties? It would be a
desperate and ultimately self-defeating strategy."
Another EU diplomat, who also spoke on condition of
anonymity, echoed that in referring to Britain's divorce deal
with the bloc last year:
"Without correct implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement,
I cannot imagine the EU would conclude a treaty with a country
that does not abide by its treaty commitments."
(Reporting by Gabriela Baczynska, John Chalmers; Editing by
Hugh Lawson)