[ad_1]
The long-awaited trade pact between the European Union and Great Britain is still on the brink a few days before the end of the Brexit transition period. After receiving information about the movement in the negotiations, in the afternoon it was said that there was still no progress on the fisheries issue.
There are also some open points on the subject of fair competitive conditions, according to unanimous statements by EU diplomats following a briefing by EU negotiator Michel Barnier.
“We are really at a crucial point now, and we are doing one last effort,” Barnier said. It will continue to work and keep the EU states and the European Parliament updated.
However, according to diplomats, he described a proposal recently tabled by Britain for an agreement on disputed fishing rights in the North Sea as “unacceptable”.
Barnier reiterated the EU’s willingness to reach a trade agreement with the British. “Our door will remain open until the end of the year and beyond,” Barnier said.
Previously, the Vice President of the EU Parliament, Katarina Barley (SPD), had put a limited extension of the transition phase into play on behalf of several EU MPs. The EU’s hand is “always outstretched”. However, when asked if there were any plans to extend the transition period, British Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “There are none.”
If an agreement is reached in the next few days, it would already be too late for the trade agreement to be ratified in due time, according to the EU Parliament. A provisional application with subsequent ratification would be conceivable, should there be a breakthrough in the coming days.
Alternatively, there is the threat of a “no-deal” scenario, in which tariffs and other trade barriers would become a reality at the UK borders as of January 1. Even with the prospect of negotiations continuing beyond the end of the year, this could not be avoided until an agreement is reached.
Due to a corona virus mutation detected in southern England, there is already chaos on the roads connecting Britain to mainland Europe. Subsequently, many European countries cut their ties with the United Kingdom and the traffic of goods to France was also interrupted.
Up to 4,000 trucks are stuck
Hundreds of trucks recently got stuck near the major English Channel port of Dover. 2,180 vehicles were parked at the closed Manston airport, a spokeswoman for the local government of Kent County in southeastern England said late Tuesday. About 630 more trucks were parked on various lanes of the M20 motorway between London and the Port of Dover. Trade associations even took over 4,000 trucks that are currently waiting to leave.
France is reportedly planning to lift the border closure at midnight. According to French Prime Minister Jean Castex, French citizens in Britain will also be able to re-enter from Wednesday. The prerequisite is that you can present a negative corona test.
