[ad_1]
Intensive negotiations between the European Union and the United Kingdom in recent weeks have failed to make a breakthrough and the bloc is prepared for the possibility of no deal being reached, EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier said after that the conversations were interrupted.
Time is running out to close a deal that will avoid a deep disruption to trade between the closely intertwined economies of the EU and the UK after the end of the transition period on December 31. Hundreds of billions of euros in trade are at stake, with the potential for an economic hit that could worsen the recession caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking at briefings for member state ambassadors, Barnier said he would continue to work intensively until the last possible moment to find an agreement, but difficulties remain on a number of issues, including longstanding fundamental points of disagreement.
The negotiations are very complex and range from energy trading to the recognition of professional qualifications in an ever closer relationship over the decades.
Key issues
The two sides have long been divided on three key questions: which authority would resolve the disputes; how to guarantee similar rules to create fair competition between companies; and the EU’s access to British fishing waters.
While preparing to brief EU MPs, Barnier wrote on social media that “despite the EU’s efforts to find solutions, very serious divergences remain” in the three areas.
“These are essential conditions for any economic partnership,” he wrote, adding that the EU is “ready for all scenarios.”
Britain’s chief negotiator David Frost wrote that he agreed with Barnier’s assessment. “Progress made,” he wrote on social media. “There are still great divergences on some fundamental issues. We continue to work to find solutions that fully respect the sovereignty of the United Kingdom. “
Barnier’s update was that there are still too many differences of opinion on fundamental issues and that the British had not responded to EU compromise offers, according to people familiar with the briefings, who described the feeling that the British side only wanted an agreement on its terms. .
Broken interlock
London has lobbied for political leaders to intervene to break the deadlock on the toughest issues. But unlike the negotiations around the withdrawal agreement, in which only a few key issues remained to be resolved, in this case the EU side believes that there are too many outstanding issues to be resolved through political exchange.
EU leaders had previously said that this week was the last chance to reach an agreement in time for it to be ratified and implemented, but have since suggested that talks could take another week to reach an agreement.
Talks have now been halted between the two sides and are expected to resume in London on Sunday. A senior diplomat said Barnier had not given any assurance that a deal could be closed before the mid-November deadline.
“He didn’t give a timeline and he was quite unsure about a deal,” the diplomat said.
[ad_2]