Fierce war of words between the EU and the UK ahead of Brexit – VG

Negotiations on how the UK will leave the EU will begin on Tuesday 8 September. It is the eighth round of negotiations and the advance fence is in place between British negotiator David Frost and his EU counterpart Michel Barnier.

This weekend, Frost has come out with juicy rhetoric about the progress of the negotiations and who is in charge: the British Isles or the continent across the channel.

– The UK will not blink first in Brexit negotiations with the EU, and we do not fear a no-deal outcome at the end of the year, says negotiator David Frost in an interview in the English newspaper. Mail on Sunday.

Fighting with the fish

Lord Frost (55), who was previously Ambassador to Norway, is now creating a tense atmosphere between former close business allies.

– They have not accepted that in certain key areas we want to be in full control of our own laws, do things our way and use the freedom that comes after Brexit, he says in the interview and continues:

– We do not want to be a client state (a country that depends on and receives protection from another country, editor’s note). We will not give up the fundamental control we have over our own laws.

Erik Mustad is editor of the britiskpolitikk.no website and Senior Lecturer in British and American Studies at the University of Agder.

– Is this a harsh tone from Frost?

– Yes, it is an uncompromising tone from the British and the negotiator Frost only recites the steep position of the Government and Prime Minister Boris Johnson. And the EU has reacted strongly to this rhetoric since the Corona situation emerged. EU negotiator Barnier has said that with such attitudes, there will be no Brexit deal, Mustad tells VG.

One of the most difficult questions has to do with fish and how much fish the British can catch from their own waters.

– The issue of fishing is at rest. There is a great distance between the parties and it is one of the areas in which the EU calls for a willingness to compromise. It is absolutely necessary, due to other EU members, such as Spain and Portugal, says Mustad.

He believes that the problems of the British stem from the fact that the British want to meet some of the requirements.

– The British believe that the EU should set its own rules that only apply to the UK. They will not follow EU regulations, which apply to other countries outside the union, such as Norway and Canada, says Mustad, continuing:

– This is a lack of understanding of how the EU system works and I think the British overestimate their own position in these negotiations.

Watch video: Britain applauds when Britain formally leaves the EU:

– Limits!

– Is this a strategy that leads to a no-deal?

– Yes, if the British do not realize the seriousness and are willing to compromise, there will be no agreement. Because the EU cannot compromise on union regulations for the good of the other 27 countries, believes the first speaker.

– Apart from fish, what issues are important to clarify?

– Limits! The border crossings along the Channel coast, especially Dover, where most trade with the EU takes place. Here they must agree on how trade should take place across these borders. Without a deal, Britain’s borders with Europe will be huge obstacles to trade. Also, of course, the Irish border issue must be solved, says Mustad.

– How long do you have for the country to reach an agreement before the New Year?

– They only have a few weeks left, because the texts of the agreement must be ratified both in the British Parliament and in the European Parliament. They just have the time it takes and no one will delay the process anymore either.

– Can the British live with a no-deal situation, as Frost claims?

– Well, time will tell. All the economic analyzes say this will affect the British when it comes to imports and exports of goods and services. This is what British export companies fear. That will be affected by a lack of agreement, says Mustad.