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Britain’s and the European Union’s talks on their future relationship are tripping over the edge, with little sign of progress before a key deadline next month.
As the last round of negotiations ends on Friday, the UK refuses to compromise in key areas, especially on the conditions the EU wants the country to accept in exchange for a trade deal, but also on fisheries and the role of the block courts. .
Meanwhile, the two sides are exchanging blows for promises to which both have already subscribed. On Thursday, the European Commission threatened the United Kingdom with a lawsuit for violating the bloc’s rules on freedom of movement.
Downing Street warned that the EU runs the risk of failing to deliver on the commitments it made in the Brexit withdrawal agreement to protect the rights of UK citizens living in the bloc.
There is only one more round of talks left before politicians meet in June to decide whether it is worth continuing. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has threatened to withdraw if not enough progress has been made by then.
If you follow through on that threat, Britain could end its post-Brexit transition period on December 31 without a free trade agreement, putting further pressure on an economy already recovering from the coronavirus pandemic.
David Frost, Johnson’s chief Brexit negotiator, briefed the cabinet on the status of the talks at a meeting on Thursday and told ministers that the bloc was asking for too much.
“David reiterated that we have never asked for anything special or unique to the EU,” Johnson spokesman James Slack told reporters.
“We are looking for a free trade agreement based on precedents and similar to what the EU already has with other countries like Canada.”
Frost told ministers that the EU “has asked much more from the United Kingdom than from other sovereign countries with which they have reached free trade agreements,” Slack said.
The bloc’s excessive demands include access to fishing waters and Britain’s commitment to comply with EU standards in areas such as workers’ rights, he said.
After the last round of negotiations, the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, accused the United Kingdom of not participating “substantially” in several key areas and refused to extend the deadline for reaching an agreement.
The EU argues that geographic proximity dictates that it must seek assurances that the United Kingdom will not seek to undermine the bloc’s economy.
In a further escalation of tensions, Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove pressured the EU to deliver on the promise he made in the withdrawal agreement to protect the rights of UK citizens living in the bloc.
In a letter to Maros Sefcovic, co-chair of the EU-UK Joint Committee, Gove complained that member states have not contacted British citizens or told them what they must do to obtain residence rights or coverage for Health.
“When considered cumulatively, these issues pose a serious risk that the EU will fail to meet its obligations under the withdrawal agreement,” Gove wrote.
Meanwhile, the European Commission threatened the United Kingdom with a lawsuit for what it called violations of the rules on the free movement of persons.
Authorities say the United Kingdom did not notify the EU about new laws that prohibit deported people from applying for re-entry, as well as rules that make it difficult for EU citizens to claim social assistance.
Migration was a key battleground in the 2016 Brexit referendum, with the Leave campaign claiming that leaving the EU would allow the United Kingdom to regain control of its borders.
The Commission gave the United Kingdom four months to rectify its deficiencies. If the UK fails to take the necessary steps, the bloc will move to the next stage of the legal process, which could eventually see fines being imposed.
“The rights of EU citizens residing in the UK after the end of the transition period, as set out in the withdrawal agreement, are based on the rights they currently enjoy in the UK under EU rules “said the commission.
The move underscores that Britain remains tied to the bloc’s rules during the transition period despite having formally left the EU four months ago. – Bloomberg
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