[ad_1]
Updated 17 minutes ago
UK PRIME MINISTER Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen agreed during a phone call today to “redouble efforts” to reach a trade deal and signed talks that will continue next week.
Downing Street said the prime minister told his Brussels counterpart that “significant differences” remained in the negotiations between the UK and the EU, and that the two sides remain separate on their positions on fishing rights and a level playing field agreement.
The call follows two weeks of intense talks between the UK’s top negotiator Lord Frost and his European Union counterpart Michel Barnier, with Johnson and von der Leyen paving the way for more discussions between the couple in London next. week.
“Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke today with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to take stock of the progress in the negotiations between the UK and the EU,” said a spokeswoman for Number 10.
“The Prime Minister noted that while some progress had been made in recent discussions, significant differences persist in several areas, including the so-called level playing field and fishing.
“The Prime Minister and the President agreed that their negotiating teams would continue talks in London next week, starting Monday, in order to redouble efforts to reach an agreement.
“They agreed to remain in personal contact on the negotiations.”
Informational meetings between the two leaders are seen as key moments in the channel barter.
Their conversation last month led to discussions “escalation” ahead of fallout after the October 15 European Council meeting briefly derailed the negotiations.
Ireland’s Europe Minister Thomas Byrne, speaking before the phone call, cast doubt that the conversation will lead to white smoke as a deal is reached, and said the discussions are still on a “technical level”.
“Personally, I don’t expect there to be a lot of progress today, but at the same time I think it’s very good that the first two are talking. I think that’s really positive, but I don’t think we’ll wait for ‘a moment’ at this particular point, ”he told BBC Radio 4’s Today program.
The UK’s chief negotiator, Lord Frost, was in the Belgian capital to speak face-to-face with his European Union counterpart Michel Barnier earlier this week as the deadline for reaching a deal approaches.
No news is bad news
Support the magazine
your contributions help us continue to deliver the stories that are important to you
Support us now
After the talks ended on Wednesday, Barnier informed EU MEPs and diplomats that “very serious divergences” remain, with only 54 days left in the transition period.
He said the main obstacles remain around the “level playing field” aimed at preventing unfair competition in areas including state subsidies, fisheries policy and the governance of any deal.
After the phone call, Frost tweeted: “Prime Minister Boris Johnson and commission chair Ursula von der Leyen spoke today about our negotiations with the EU.
“My conversations with Michel Barnier will continue in London on Monday.”
He previously said that progress has been made during two weeks of intense negotiations, but that “great divergences persist on some central issues.”
Minister of State for European Affairs Thomas Byrne said today that he doubted the conversation between von der Leyen and Johnson would make a significant difference in trade talks between the EU and the UK.
“Personally, I don’t expect there to be great progress today, but at the same time I think it’s very good that the first two are talking,” Byrne said, speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today show.
Byrne does not believe that top negotiators should be sidelined and that heads of state should not compromise to reach an agreement.
“No, Ursula von der Leyen, Michel Barnier … they speak on behalf of all Europeans, individual member states do not, this is how the European Union works,” Byrne said.
[ad_2]