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The EU will “never” sacrifice its “future” for a deal with Britain, EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier said on the Twitter online service on Tuesday. Access to the EU internal market that Britain seeks must be tied to conditions. Barnier had previously briefed the EU ministers of member states on the status of the negotiations. Among them there is “total unity” regarding the EU position vis-à-vis London, the Frenchman said.
Britain left the EU at the end of January. However, it will remain in the EU internal market and in the customs union until the end of the year. In fact, both parties wanted to use this transition phase to negotiate a trade agreement. The talks have barely advanced for months.
The points of contention are fair competition and compliance with EU rules in mutual trade, enforcement of a future agreement and the fishing rights of EU fishermen in British waters. Meanwhile, the time for a timely ratification of a possible agreement before January 1 is extremely short.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is scheduled to visit Brussels in person in the coming days to negotiate a solution. Barnier said he was working “closely” with British negotiator David Frost to prepare for Johnson’s scheduled meeting with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
