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European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson are expected to hold talks on the latest sticking points in post-Brexit trade negotiations later today.
Last night, UK and EU chief negotiators agreed to suspend talks after a week of intense negotiations in London.
Failing to reach an agreement in three key areas, Michel Barnier and David Frost decided to pause the talks because, according to them, the conditions for an agreement are not met.
They cited significant divergences in the three long-established problem areas: fisheries, fair competition and dispute resolution.
This morning they are briefing their respective political bosses, Ursula Von der Leyen and Boris Johnson, who will then speak this afternoon to see if high-level political intervention can unblock the talks.
If they are successful, a trade and security deal between Britain and the EU is close at hand.
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If they are unsuccessful, Britain will exit a series of preferential economic, security, data, financial and transport deals within 26 days.
The EU will lose the terms of free trade with one of its largest trading partners, access to all fishing rights in UK territorial waters and access to British criminal justice and intelligence and security services information.
While a number of deadlines have come and gone, this weekend is seen as crucial if a deal is to be reached before the current Brexit transition period ends at the end of the month.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has called for negotiators to be given the “space” they need to conclude their discussions.
Additional reports: PA
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