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Negotiators for a Brexit trade deal inched toward a compromise on fishing rights on Sunday, but missed an important deadline, increasing the possibility of no-deal weeks starting on January 1, even in the event of a deal. .
Teams led by top UK negotiator David Frost and his EU counterpart Michel Barnier were expected to continue talks on Monday despite notice from the European parliament that it would not vote on a deal if it did not make sure. before midnight on Sunday.
UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said talks had gone off the rails in recent days after the EU “made some unreasonable demands” on fisheries, but that he was still hopeful of a deal before Christmas. “I’m sure a deal can be reached, but obviously a move is needed from the EU,” he said.
Failure to meet the European parliament’s deadline means that ministers in the EU council representing bloc capitals may need to “provisionally apply” a deal on January 1 to avoid a no-deal exit until parliament votes to. end of the month.
However, if the talks deepen much further in December, EU capitals may not have time to translate and analyze the agreed text, leaving the UK to leave the transition period without new trade and security deals with Brussels.
Contingency measures would have to be agreed to close the gap before an agreement can take effect, but such a scenario increases the danger that ports and security services will be left in legal limbo.
Bernd Lange, the German chairman of the parliament’s trade committee, the key body in the chamber’s ratification process, tweeted: “The consequence of no agreement tonight is obvious: the [European parliament] you do not know the consolidated text, you are not in a position to examine it before the end of the transition period. So make preparations now for a no-deal period and agree on emergency measures with the UK. “
A major sticking point in the talks remains the EU’s demand to be able to apply tariffs or completely block the entry of British goods in the event that the government closes access to the UK seas after a transition period to progressively introduce new fisheries agreements for European vessels. .
Under the British proposal, Boris Johnson insists that UK-flagged vessels have exclusive access to the six to 12-nautical-mile zone off the British coast, fished for centuries by French and Belgian vessels. Such a move would lead to some British exports being kept out of its biggest market under the proposal that Brussels has put forward.
Barnier tweeted: “At this crucial time in the negotiations, we continue to work hard with David Frost and his team.
“The EU remains committed to a fair, reciprocal and balanced agreement. We respect the sovereignty of the United Kingdom. And we hope the same.
“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. “
His comments indicate that there has been some movement on the issue, and both parties can take action should their interests be threatened, but UK sources downplayed any suggestion of a breakthrough.
Clément Beaune, France’s minister for European Affairs, said he believed a deal with the UK was still feasible.
“We have given ourselves a few more days because we think that an agreement is still possible,” he said. “It’s difficult, I’m not sure, but it’s worth a try. More than an agreement, we want a good agreement, in particular to preserve fisheries and fair conditions of competition. The negotiations should conclude in the next few days. We know where our red lines are and what interests we don’t want to sacrifice ”.
All political groups in the European parliament, except the Greens, had agreed on Sunday night’s deadline for reaching an agreement.
Philippe Lamberts, the Greens’ co-leader, said: “The position we take is that negotiators should be able to work until the last minute and just give us time in January and February to review and ratify any agreement. I’m looking at him quite cheerfully, I must say, because I was quite mad at my colleagues and now they’ll look stupid. “
