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Foreign Minister Simon Coveney has said that the government “still believes that it is possible to reach an agreement on a future trade agreement” between the UK and the European Union.
He also urged politicians to “try to reduce language in terms of divisions and differences of views and focus on the details.”
Meeting with his German counterpart Heiko Maas in Berlin, Coveney said an agreement could be reached that would protect the EU’s interests in preserving the integrity of the single market, while respecting the UK’s insistence on being an independent and sovereign country. abroad. The United States.
“Both can be achieved, we need to find a way to design a middle ground that can achieve both,” he said, adding that this should involve a partnership for the future.
Mr. Coveney said that failure to reach an agreement would be a huge “missed opportunity” and “both parties will be weaker as a result.”
He also predicted that the UK would try to make the outcome of the negotiations a job.
The minister’s visit to Berlin was organized to mark the January 1 symbolic “handover” of Germany’s seat on the United Nations Security Council to Ireland.
The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, reportedly told EU leaders that there is “little expectation” that a trade agreement with the United Kingdom can be reached.
He said that “the probability of no agreement is greater than that of an agreement” in a brief discussion on Brexit during a summit in Brussels.
The Taoiseach also said that the prevailing mood among EU leaders was that there was a “great possibility” of a no-deal Brexit.
Micheál Martin told reporters: “People recognize the enormous challenges that now remain in terms of reaching an agreement.
“Suffice it to say that people feel and believe in all member states that this will be a very challenging task.”
When asked if he shared British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s view of the “great possibility” of a no-deal, he said: “That is the prevailing mood at the moment.”
Negotiators from the EU and the UK continue their attempt to break the deadlock on key stumbling blocks to reaching an agreement on a future relationship, including a free trade agreement.
Tanaiste @LeoVaradkar says it believes a Brexit deal is still possible and could still be reached at the last minute @rtenews pic.twitter.com/3SzI0a9YoC
– Aisling Kenny (@KennyAKE) December 11, 2020
Tanaiste Leo Varadkar has said that he believes a Brexit deal can still be reached at the last minute.
Speaking in government buildings, he said Britain, Ireland and the EU were interested in a deal being reached.
He said it often happens that a deal like this is made at the last minute because both parties need to make sure that it is the best possible deal and that nothing is left on the table.
The Tanaiste said he would not be surprised if negotiations drag on for a few more days and the deal is only closed at the last minute.
He said it would take a commitment from both parties and that neither side would want to see the opportunity for an agreement that is lost because someone is being “too rigid.”
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Meanwhile, Northern Ireland Prime Minister Arlene Foster said she hoped the result would not be a no-deal exit.
She said: “Actually, it is very important for the whole UK to come to an agreement. I know some people think they could deal with some kind of Australian Brexit. But really, for us, it would be very nice if we had a free treaty. Commerce “.
When asked about the significance of the resolution to some of the uncertainties surrounding the functioning of the Northern Ireland Protocol, Ms Foster said: “Obviously we voted against the protocol, it is not something we would like to have there.
“But we’ve been working really hard to try and change some of the worst excesses and try to mitigate some of the problems that have been there.”
“We have seen some progress there. But of course it is a work in progress and there is still a lot of clarity that needs to come from the back of the protocol. Of course, if there is a free trade agreement that helps with all of that.”
Deputy Prime Minister Michelle O’Neill stressed the importance of reaching a free trade agreement.
She said: “Certainly there is very negative ambient music, which doesn’t bode well.
“We have made some progress this week in terms of clarifying the protocol and the fact that the British government has withdrawn its threat to violate international law.”
“However, what will happen on Sunday remains to be seen and we need to reach an agreement, there must be an agreement and clarity must be given to consumers and businesses.”
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Last night, Johnson said there was a strong possibility of a no-deal, saying the EU wanted to keep the UK locked in the EU’s regulatory orbit, a claim EU officials have denied.
Johnson made his remarks after a cabinet meeting during which, Downing Street said, he received the full support of ministers on his Brexit strategy.
Despite the lack of movement on both sides during Wednesday night’s dinner with von der Leyen, Johnson said he would travel again to Brussels, or to Paris or Berlin to try to close a deal.
He also urged his chief negotiator, David Frost, to go the extra mile to reach an agreement with his counterpart Michel Barnier.
However, Johnson said there is now a strong possibility of a no-deal exit, or what he euphemistically calls Australia-style terms.
He said that the UK would prosper enormously in this scenario and it offered amazing possibilities.
In reality, a no-deal will mean two-way tariffs on a variety of goods, especially in the agri-food and automotive sectors, and it will mean all other areas of cooperation, such as extradition, fighting crime, research, education, decline to a minimum.
UK culture minister Oliver Dowden has said the lack of a free trade agreement would go both ways.
Speaking to the BBC, he said: “It would not just be us who would be worse off if we did not have a free trade agreement, the exact same would apply to the Irish who export large amounts of beef to us.
“Or, for example, the Germans regarding the cars they send us.”
While the conversation in Brussels will continue, there are no new initiatives on the table to address a level playing field or fisheries issues.
Yesterday, the European Commission published contingency plans so that as of January 1, if there is no agreement, the planes can continue flying and the goods vehicles can continue moving.
There are already long tailings of trucks in Kent heading toward Dover as companies try to move shipments before the December 31 deadline, in just 20 days.
Reporting by Tony Connelly, Aisling Kenny, AFP, PA
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