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Brussels – British and European negotiators entered the “last hours” of their quest for a post-Brexit trade deal on Friday, deeply divided on the issue of fishing rights.
The UK will leave the European Union single market in less than two weeks, and time is almost running out for any deal to be approved in time to avoid a serious economic crisis.
The European Parliament demanded to see the text of any deal by Sunday, while the UK government says it will not allow talks to go beyond the December 31 deadline.
“This is the moment of truth. We have very little time left, only a few hours for these negotiations to be successful … if they want this agreement to enter into force on January 1,” said the EU chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, to the European Parliament.
Barnier, who took to recent talks with his British counterpart David Frost immediately after meeting with members of the European Parliament, said the issue of marine fishing remains the main point of contention.
“I don’t think it is fair or acceptable not to allow European fishermen … to access those waters,” he said.
After officially leaving the European Union on January 31, the United Kingdom will definitely leave the single market and the European Customs Union on December 31, with or without an agreement.
final call?
In the absence of a trade agreement, exchanges between London and Brussels will take place in accordance with the rules of the World Trade Organization, which may mean the imposition of customs duties or quotas.
On Thursday night, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had a telephone conversation that failed to break the stalemate in trade talks.
Von der Leyen said on Thursday that overcoming differences between London and the European Union in post-Brexit negotiations will be “very difficult” after the phone conversation.
On the other hand, a British government spokesman said: “The Prime Minister confirmed that the negotiations are now in a dangerous situation”, warning that “the time is very short and it seems now that it is very likely that an agreement will not be reached unless the European Union changes its position. “
“Boris Johnson and I assess the negotiations between the European Union and the United Kingdom. We welcomed significant progress on many issues. However, there are still big differences, especially in fisheries. They will be very difficult to overcome. The negotiations will continue.” von der Leyen wrote on Twitter. Friday morning) “.
Barnier emphasized that the issue of marine fishing remains the main point of discussion, as the two sides converge on broader rules to ensure fair competition.
He stressed that the issue of marine fishing cannot be overcome, “we address issues as an integrated unit. There is no agreement on anything before everything is agreed.”
Britain insists that it belongs to the decision to allow fishing in its waters after January 1, but Brussels wants to secure a long-term agreement that guarantees the entry of European Union vessels to it.
Traffic jams
Many in Brussels see the feverish rhetoric from both sides as a move to make progress in the last moments before signing the deal, which is said to be 95 percent ready.
“It’s always like this in politics. It’s always done last,” former Belgian MP and Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt told Sky News.
However, as he prepared to head to Brussels to see Frost, Barnier seemed pessimistic. “I think I have always been frank with you, open and honest,” he told members of the European Parliament.
“I cannot say what will happen during this latest round of negotiations. We have to be prepared for all possibilities,” he said.
Meanwhile, an unprecedented number of trucks carrying goods seek to cross from France into Great Britain, as the transition phase of exiting Britain from the European Union approaches.
Merchants are rushing to stock goods by December 31, exacerbating delays originally caused by the pre-Christmas rush and cargo movement disruption due to the emerging Corona virus crisis.
