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In the stalled negotiations on a Brexit trade pact, the tone is increasingly severe.
6:13 pm, December 12, 2020
The London government even brought one in a day before the self-imposed deadline for a breakthrough expired. Use of the Navy at stake for EU fishing boats stay out of UK waters in case of no deal. Negotiations between teams of EU negotiators Michel barnier and its British counterpart David frost meanwhile he continued in Brussels.
Decision no later than Sunday
The British media reported to the German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the french President Emmanuel Macron would have blocked Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s attempts to negotiate directly with them. Both parties want a decision to be made this Sunday at the latest.
When exactly a decision should be made on Sunday and how it will be announced, neither side could say on Saturday. That depends on the course of the talks, a Downing Street spokesman said at the request of the German Press Agency. Without an agreement, trade would have to follow the rules of the World Trade Organization; this sometimes means high tariffs. Economic growth is likely to collapse.
“Association requires commitments”
Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney he spoke in favor of a more positive communication from the EU. There should be less talk of sanctions and more of solutions, said Coveney of the daily “Die Welt”. Addressing the government in London, Coveney said: “We all recognize the UK as a sovereign country. But partnership requires a commitment.” That is not a loss of sovereignty. Rather, they are sovereign agreements between two parties.
German Foreign Minister Heiko maas According to an agreement “every day more difficult, but it is still possible”, as the SPD politician told the newspapers of the Funke media group. He added: “That is why we as the EU will continue to negotiate as long as the window is open a bit. We will see what happens on Sunday and then we will assess the situation again.”
In theory, the time would be until shortly before the turn of the year. Only then will the transitional phase come to an end, during which everything will remain the same despite the British leaving the EU. Therefore, the British media speculate that a return to the negotiating table would not be possible even if they admitted failure on Sunday.
Fishing problem
One of the main points of contention is that Access to fishing grounds within 200 miles claimed by Great Britain around its shores. The point is that the British want to decide for themselves who is allowed to fish how much in their waters. But the exclusive economic zone, which the country now claims, is not in line with the historically developed division of fishing grounds as defined in the framework of European fisheries policy.
Economically, the issue hardly plays a role, but symbolically it should hardly be underestimated for former maritime power Great Britain. Here, too, neither party wants to compromise. London even announced on Saturday that, if necessary, it would use Royal Navy ships to protect its waters from EU fishing tractors.
London doesn’t want to adopt EU rules
The issue of competitive conditions is not resolved either. Brussels takes the position that competition from Great Britain can only aspire to duty-free trade if the same labor, social and environmental standards are applied on both sides of the English Channel.
But for London that is a matter of principle. Time and again British officials stress that this is about their country’s sovereignty. With Brexit, you want to regain control of your own laws, borders, waters, and your own money, and not adopt EU rules, over which you will no longer have any influence. For British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, it is absurd for the EU to demand that Britain follow changes in EU government at all times.
EU Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen responded on Friday in Brussels: The British are free to deviate from European standards in future, for example when it comes to environmental standards. But the conditions of access to the European internal market should also be adapted, that is, tariffs would be introduced.
What is stagnation?
UK commentators disagree on what’s behind the stalemate. Both parties could trust the other to give in, and it would be difficult to miscalculate. Or maybe Johnson gives in at the last minute in exchange for token concessions and it’s all just carefully planned choreography meant to portray him as a fighter in the eyes of Brexit hardliners? It would not be the first time. But no one can be sure.
