[ad_1]
A three-hour conversation between Prime Minister Boris Johnson and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday night in Brussels did not produce a breakthrough. Rather, the two sides continued to notice big differences.
However, the negotiating teams should meet immediately and try to resolve the trouble spots within four days.
“Far”
The EU Commission stated: “We have a clear understanding of each other’s position. They are very far apart.” However, at the end of the weekend “a decision will be made,” von der Leyen said after the meeting.
British government circles said it was not yet clear whether a deal would be reached. Prime Minister Johnson wants to leave no stone unturned to test forms of a possible deal.
Trade agreement
Johnson and von der Leyen had agreed to have a dinner in Brussels to discuss and, if possible, resolve the remaining disputed points in the negotiations on a trade deal for the time after the end of the Brexit transition phase. It is about fishing, fair competition and the question of the enforceability of agreements.
EU insiders had said before the meeting that no breakthrough was expected at the dinner. If there is no deal by the end of next weekend, the EU would review its emergency plans for a “no-deal” Brexit, a diplomat had predicted.
It was the third conversation between the two since EU negotiator Michel Barnier and his British colleague David Frost announced last Friday that their negotiating mandate had reached a dead end. After two phone calls had not been as successful, the personal meeting should now give a boost to the negotiations.
Time is running out
This Thursday and Friday, the heads of state and government of the EU will meet for their last summit of the year. The contract should be in force before December 31, because then the transition phase of Brexit will expire. If an agreement is reached, it should be ratified in the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers of the EU. As it stands, at least one vote on the trade pact is also expected in the British Parliament.
Britain left the EU at the end of January, but everything will remain the same until the turn of the year. Negotiations will take place later. Without a contract, there will be tariffs and other trade hurdles starting January 1. It is feared that this could lead to long traffic jams on the English side of the English Channel and empty shelves in supermarkets. The economy expects great turmoil.
The biggest concern dispelled
There was at least one progress on Tuesday: the British government and the EU Commission agreed on the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol to the Brexit Agreement. This largely eliminates the biggest worry in the event that a deal is not reached. The protocol aims to ensure that there is no firm border between British Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, a member of the EU. In this case, a worsening of the conflict was expected in the region of the former civil war.
London had agreed to remove or change controversial passages in a bill that had caused much resentment in Brussels. Under London’s will, the Single Market Act was supposed to nullify the provisions of the Northern Ireland Protocol and thus violate international law.
