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After the two sides concluded talks yesterday, it was agreed that they would continue separate negotiations in areas such as aviation and road transport. As the talks move into the final week of formal negotiations, EU officials are also concerned about the fisheries issue. With Lord Frost indicating that concessions could be made on subsidy controls and a level playing field, the EU negotiating team fears that fisheries will dominate the final round of talks due to demands made by countries like France.
States like France are heavily dependent on UK waters, but in general, fishing opportunities for most EU states are not a concern.
While the issue could dominate the talks next week, Brussels does not believe Boris Johnson will withdraw from the talks.
Barnier has also resisted stepping up no-deal planning, as he doesn’t want to reveal anything.
An EU source told The Times: “We should not rush, in danger of revealing too much.”
Johnson has set next week’s EU summit as the deadline for a Brexit deal.
However, EU officials believe the two sides will negotiate beyond that deadline.
Another source said: “The negotiations will continue. It is not a deadline.”
Once a large majority of the deal is agreed, the two sides are expected to enter the tunnel phase of the negotiations, away from media scrutiny.
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8:37 am update: Labor embarrassed by Brexit demands
Former Conservative MEP for South East England, Daniel Hannan, has attacked Labor for their Brexit demands.
Commenting on the possibility of food products entering the UK with lower hygiene standards, Hannan said Labor’s demands are “absurd”.
He said: “What the Labor Party suggests is that we go beyond the existing EU rules.
“The absurdity of these proposals is that they would not only rule out a trade deal with the United States; they would rule out a trade deal with the EU, several of whose members have different animal welfare regulations.”
The party has asked the UK to order the importation of all food products that do not meet UK standards.
Update from 8.04 to. M .: Boris ready to call Macron’s bluff on the no-deal Brexit threat
Boris Johnson is ready to fool Emmanuel Macron according to a political expert, who claimed the French president will not ruin a broader post-Brexit trade deal because of fishing demands.
Ben Harris-Quinney, chairman of the independent think tank Bow Group, believes Macron will eventually back down on his demands if fishing is the only obstacle to a free trade deal.
Speaking to Express.co.uk, he said: “Boris knows how important the preservation of our fishing waters is to the Brexit movement, but Macron and the EU are also facing pressure from Spanish and European fishermen.
“A compromise is possible and Macron is unlikely to push for an agreement on fisheries policy alone, assuming all other elements of the agreement are agreed.”
7.21am update: Frost and Barnier to seek mini-deal if deal fails
Lord David Frost and Michel Barnier will pursue a series of mini deals if a comprehensive deal cannot be reached next week.
The EU fears that states like France will continue their demands on fishing and thus prevent a deal from being reached next week.
Lord Frost and Barnier held constructive talks last week, with the EU hoping for a breakthrough in state aid.
Barnier has faced pressure to step up planning for any deals, but the negotiator is reluctant to do so in order not to reveal anything.
A source told The Times: “We should not rush, in danger of revealing too much. “
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