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The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has said that “great differences continue to exist” between the EU and Great Britain and that “to bridge them will be a great challenge”.
But he said “substantial progress” had been made on many issues in the post-Brexit trade deal negotiations, following a phone call with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Previously, Number 10 downplayed the chances of a breakthrough, suggesting that it would just be a balance rather than a deal.
Foreign Minister Simon Coveney has expressed hope that the existing gaps between the EU and the UK in the Brexit negotiations can be closed “through realism and a sense of justice on both sides”.
He said that “we believe that with political will there is now a path to an agreement and we welcome that the negotiating teams continue to do everything possible to that end.”
Opening a debate in Dáil on preparing for Brexit for the end of the transition period, Coveney said that “fishing remains the most difficult problem to solve and I hope that the existing gaps can be closed through realism and a sense of fairness on both sides “.
The Minister reiterated that “regardless of the outcome of future relationship negotiations, hopefully in the coming days, the protocol means that the new customs and regulatory patrols that come into effect for east-west trade will not apply to trade between Ireland and Northern Ireland.
He described this as a “significant achievement” and reflected a key government priority since the start of the Brexit negotiations.
Negotiations between the UK and the EU continued this week after being given the green light following a meeting between Johnson and Dr von der Leyen last Wednesday.
Despite days of talks, Michael Gove, the British cabinet office minister, said Thursday that the chances of a deal remained “less than 50 percent.”
He told the Commons Brexit Committee that the “most likely outcome” was that the current transition period would end on December 31 without a deal.
“I think that unfortunately we are more likely not to get a deal. So right now less than 50 percent, ”Gove said.
Earlier, the European Parliament issued an ultimatum to EU and UK negotiators, saying it will not ratify a deal before the end of the year if it is reached by this Sunday at the latest.
MEPs and EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier warned that this would mean a short period of “no-deal” terms in which tariffs would have to be legally imposed on trade between the EU and the UK.
There has been some progress in the talks, but the fish issue is largely unresolved, Barnier told MEPs, The Irish Times understands, warning that a deal needed to be reached in a few days or there would be a no-deal period.
“We give Boris Johnson until Sunday to make a decision. The uncertainty that weighs on citizens and businesses as a result of the UK elections becomes intolerable, ”said Dacian Ciolos, President of Renew Europe, the group in which Fianna Fáil is located.
“Michel Barnier and his team have our full support as we head to the Brexit moment of truth.”
In a joint statement, the heads of the parliament’s political groups said parliament “is ready to organize an extraordinary plenary session by the end of December” to ratify an agreement.
However, it would not do so if an agreement were reached later on Sunday, he warned, insisting that parliament must have a copy of a provisional text “as soon as possible” to begin analyzing it.
Manfred Weber, head of Fine Gael’s powerful European People’s Party, reiterated that a deal would only be ratified if it arrived on Sunday.
“After that, we cannot reasonably examine the deal before the end of the year. The deal is too important to pass quickly in parliament, ”Weber said.
National governments technically have the power to provisionally apply trade agreements until they are ratified, upon a proposal from the European Commission.
However, the commission has long been warning that the alternative to ratification in December is a temporary no-deal period.
However, there would be significant pressure to do everything possible to minimize the economic damage of the no-deal terms, leading to a potentially tense political struggle within the EU institutions. – Additional reporting PA
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