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The British government has said that unless the EU makes a substantial move in the fisheries negotiations, there will be no general future relationship agreement in the coming days and the UK will end the transition period with a no-deal Brexit in 11 days. .
The warning comes before the European Parliament’s deadline of midnight tonight for both sides to agree on a free trade agreement beyond which Parliament says it will not be prepared to ratify any treaties in time for the January 1st.
A UK source said the EU continued to make demands that were incompatible with independence from Britain and that London could not accept a deal that “does not leave us in control of our own laws or waters.”
The warning followed an offer by EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier that 25% of the value of the fish caught by European vessels in UK waters be transferred to the British fleet.
While London says it should be closer to 60%, the 25% offer alone has faced strong pushback from all eight coastal member states. The Killybegs Fishermen’s Organization said Barnier’s proposal would spell doom for the Irish fishing industry.
Downing Street said last night that the EU was “struggling to get the necessary flexibility from member states.” A Brussels source pointed out that the EU was the member states and that Barnier was there to protect the interests of Europeans.
A government source acknowledged that last minute negotiations had worsened. There is speculation that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will not want to commit to Brexit amid a furious backlash over the latest coronavirus restrictions in London and south-east England.
That means the talks could be delayed beyond tonight’s deadline set by the European Parliament, beyond which it will refuse to ratify any treaties in time for January 1.
Brexit talks: dying agony over fish and state aid
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