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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are expected to speak by phone later today to decide on the fate of the Brexit negotiations.
Discussions continued yesterday in Brussels between two teams led by the two chief negotiators Michel Barnier and David Frost.
The talks were said to have been “very difficult”, with no signs of any progress on the key issues of fair competition, fisheries and how to resolve disputes.
After their dinner in Brussels on Wednesday night, Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen agreed that the talks should continue until today and then, according to a Downing Street source, a firm decision should be made on the future of the negotiations.
The talks resumed on Thursday and continued until last night. It is unclear whether both leaders will decide today or end the negotiations entirely and accept the reality of a no-deal Brexit, or move on.
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It is understood that London’s announcement that the Royal Navy would board European ships and arrest fishermen if they entered UK waters from January 1 did not entirely improve the mood.
It is also understood that the UK has proposed stricter restrictions on foreign ownership of British fishing vessels, an issue that has particularly alarmed the Dutch and Spanish governments as a significant number of UK vessels are owned by the Dutch. and Spanish.
There are no signs of progress on the level playing field.
The EU wants to ensure that as its standards evolve over time, British companies, who will have access to the single market without tariffs or quotas, do not have an unfair advantage if Britain deviates from those standards.
A UK source said last night that Boris Johnson’s position remained the same. Any treatment must be fair and respect the principles of sovereignty and control.
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