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In the dispute over a trade deal between the EU and Britain after Brexit, both sides viewed the current state of the talks negatively.
The heads of state and government of the EU countries noted during their summit in Brussels “with concern” that two and a half months before the end of the transition phase of Brexit there was still not enough progress on key issues. They asked the British government to “take the necessary steps to make an agreement possible.”
The London government was not satisfied with the attitude of Brussels. British negotiator David Frost wrote on Twitter that he was “disappointed” with the line taken by the EU states and “surprised” that the EU “was no longer committing to intensive work on a future partnership.”
EU heads of state and Commission Director Ursula von der Leyen had previously again expressed interest in a deal, but also made it clear that they did not want to deviate from its principles. Frost wrote that he was “also surprised by the suggestion that only the UK should approach the EU to reach an agreement. This is an unusual approach in the negotiations.” Prime Minister Boris Johnson wanted to comment on Friday.
The heads of state and government had not explicitly set a deadline for ending talks with London. Johnson, on the other hand, threatened to leave the negotiating table in September if there was no progress by October 15. On Wednesday night he announced that he would first await the results of the EU summit.
Barnier: “We will be available until the last day”
The EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, offered to step up negotiations on a trade pact once again. “I have offered the British team to negotiate intensively in the short time left to reach the agreement we wanted towards the end of October,” Barnier said after discussions in Brussels. He wants to spend the whole week in London and, if necessary, the weekend as well. Then negotiations are planned in Brussels. “We will be available until the last day,” Barnier said.
Britain left the EU at the end of January but remains a member of the European internal market and the customs union until the end of the year. If there is no agreement on future trade relations by then, this could have serious consequences for companies and, for example, the EU fishing industry. The EU side considers it necessary to conclude the negotiations at the end of October so that any treaty can still be ratified.
