Yahoo Finance Juncker hasn’t sent May a Christmas card because 'the Brexit deal is a better gift'
European Union chief Jean-Claude Juncker has spurned the chance to call a Christmas truce in Brexit tensions by sending a card to UK prime minister Theresa May.
After a year of terse talks, difficult dealmaking and no-deal brinksmanship from both sides, an exchange of Christmas cards might have been an obvious way to begin repairing relations between Britain and Brussels.
It could also have helped mend their personal relationship after May publicly ‘handbagged’ Juncker at the EU leaders’ summit last week.
But the prime minister will be disappointed if she was expecting to find season’s greetings from the EU in the letterbox of 10 Downing Street.
A European commission spokesperson has told Yahoo Finance UK that Juncker hasn’t sent a card to his British counterpart – or indeed any other leader – this year.
And they said: “The future relationship between the EU and the UK doesn’t depend on a few lines in a Christmas card but on 585-page withdrawal agreement to be ratified and a 24 pages political declaration.”
Although Juncker doesn’t do cards, he might still wish May a joyeux noël by less traditional means.
WATCH: Theresa May publicly ‘handbags’ Jean-Claude Juncker in Brexit row
It’s understood that Juncker prefers to communicate his Christmas wishes by text message or phone call.
That will disappoint at least one member of the European parliament.
Indrek Tarand, a Green MEP from Estonia, wrote to an email to all 750 of his colleagues and their staff suggesting they send a Christmas card to London appealing for the UK to remain.
“Let us send a Christmas card to the British parliament and the government, signed by president of European parliament, and supported by those who wish to co-sign,” he wrote.
“The message could be “we shall do our part in order to help you to stay in the EU”. I think even our colleague Mr Nigel Farage with his former party members can join us in that effort. Thank you very much for considering my peaceful initiative.”
UKIP MEP Mike Hookem replied: “I would rather send Theresa May and her Government a P45 (redundancy notice).”
Juncker is finishing his working year on Friday with a speech at the closing ceremony of the last coal mine in Germany. It remains to be seen whether he’ll bring a lump back for May.
Meanwhile, European council president Donald Tusk has released a video of himself singing a traditional Christmas carol from his native Poland.
— Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) December 20, 2018
In a Christmas message, he said he hoped for: “A better future with, for only good changes and that we will all be better to ourselves and others.”
Tusk, who rose from being a football hooligan to Polish president, is well known for his tough but personable style of politics and also recently featured in a action movie-style trailer for his work.
READ MORE: Brexit chaos to continue over Christmas, Theresa May warns
