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THE BRITISH PRIME Minister has said that unless there is a “fundamental change in approach” by the European Union, the UK will opt for the “Australian solution” – Downing Street language for not reaching a deal – in talks. post-Brexit trade.
Earlier, Lord Frost, Boris Johnson’s European negotiator, said the UK was “disappointed” by the outcome of a European Union summit in which the bloc indicated it was willing to continue trade negotiations but called on Britain take the next step.
The UK chief negotiator said the prime minister would present his response today, which has come in the form of Johnson saying the UK was happy to pursue a no-deal approach.
Johnson said his judgment was that the UK should prepare for an Australia-style deal in the EU trade talks.
Speaking to broadcasters, he said: “From the beginning, we were very clear that we wanted nothing more complicated than a Canadian-style relationship based on friendship and free trade.
“Judging from the last EU summit in Brussels, that will not work for our EU partners.
“They want the continued ability to control our legislative freedom, our fisheries in a way that is completely unacceptable to an independent country.
“And since we only have 10 weeks until the end of the transition period on January 1, I have to judge the likely outcome and prepare.
“And given that they have seriously refused to negotiate for much of the past few months and given that this summit seems to explicitly rule out a Canada-style deal, I have come to the conclusion that we should prepare for January 1 with arrangements that are more like Australia’s, based on simple principles of global free trade. “
Johnson proposed last month that both sides should walk away from the talks and prepare for a no-deal outcome if there is no agreement at the October 15 European Council meeting.
But, in a text adopted by the summit of EU leaders on the day of the deadline, they “invited” Brussels chief negotiator Michel Barnier to continue their discussions while urging the UK to “make the necessary moves to make possible an agreement ”.
Lord Frost called the response “unusual” in a later statement.
He tweeted: “Disappointed by the conclusions of the European Council on the negotiations between the UK and the EU.
“(I am) surprised that the EU is no longer committed to working ‘hard’ to achieve a future partnership as agreed with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on 3 October.
“I’m also struck by the suggestion that all future movements must come from the UK to reach an agreement.
“It is an unusual approach to conducting a negotiation.
“Prime Minister Boris Johnson will set out the UK’s reactions and approach tomorrow in light of his statement on September 7.”
In his call with von der Leyen and the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, Johnson expressed “disappointment” that the talks had not progressed further.
However, there is skepticism in Brussels that Downing Street is willing to close the negotiations.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said: “Britain has already imposed so many deadlines that came and went.”
Meanwhile, Michel told a press conference that Brussels would decide in the next few days, based on upcoming UK proposals, whether to continue trade talks.
“We are clear that we are determined to negotiate, we are determined to reach an agreement but we know that there are some difficult issues,” he said.
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“This is the case of fishing, without a doubt, and also of equal conditions and also of governance.
“We are united and we will make an evaluation in the coming days, we will see if it is possible to complete a negotiation, what will be the proposal of the country (of the United Kingdom) and based on that we will make an evaluation.
EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier told the press conference that his team was determined to reach a “fair deal”.
All parties have recognized that the issue of future fishing rights after the current Brexit transition period ends at the end of the year remains one of the most difficult issues to resolve.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who is under pressure from his country’s fishermen who fear losing access to British waters, indicated he was willing to take a hard line.
“Under no circumstances should our fishermen be slaughtered by Brexit,” he said.
“If these conditions are not met, we may not have a deal. If the correct terms cannot be found at the end of these discussions, we are ready for a no-deal deal for our future relationships. “
Taoiseach Micheal Martin also emphasized the importance of securing a satisfactory agreement on fisheries if a comprehensive trade agreement is to be achieved.
Meanwhile, von der Leyen announced that he had to withdraw from the summit to isolate himself after a member of his staff tested positive for coronavirus, despite the German politician testing negative.
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