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Michel Barnier has warned that the UK must be prepared to respect EU sovereignty if talks on a post-Brexit trade deal are to be successful.
The Brussels chief negotiator said the EU remained committed to achieving “a fair, reciprocal and balanced agreement”, but said both sides should be able to act when their interests were at stake.
His comments came after a UK government source warned that the negotiations would fail unless there was a “substantial change” in the EU’s position in the remaining days of the talks.
The British side has accused the EU of making “unreasonable demands” and of failing to respect the UK’s sovereignty over fishing rights and fair competition rules.
In a statement posted on Twitter, Barnier said that talks with UK chief negotiator Frost were at a “crucial moment”.
“The EU remains committed to a fair, reciprocal and balanced agreement. We respect the sovereignty of the United Kingdom. And we expect the same, ”he said.
“Both the EU and the UK should have the right to make their own laws and control their own waters. And we should both be able to act when our interests are at stake. “
Talks continued in Brussels over the weekend, but UK sources said the Brexit transition period was increasingly likely to end on December 31 without a deal.
A UK government source said: “Unfortunately, the EU is still struggling to obtain the necessary flexibility from member states and continues to make demands that are incompatible with our independence.
“We cannot accept a deal that does not leave us in control of our own laws or waters.
“We continue to try all possible paths towards an agreement, but without a substantial change from the Commission, we will come out under the terms of the World Trade Organization (WTO) on December 31.”
British Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he believed a deal was still possible, but said it would require a move from the EU.
“We want these conversations to reach a positive conclusion. I think everyone wants a deal. Unfortunately, the EU has made some unreasonable demands, “he told Sky News’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday.
“I’m sure a deal can be reached, but obviously a move is needed from the EU.”
The European Parliament has said that talks must be concluded by Sunday night if any agreement is to be ratified before the transition is complete.
However, EU leaders could provisionally sign any agreement, leaving ratification until 2021, and the British side expects talks to continue for a few more days in the week before Christmas.
If there is no deal by December 31st, the UK will leave the single market and customs union and start trading with the EU on WTO terms, with the imposition of tariffs potentially leading to higher prices in the shops.
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