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Talks on the Brexit trade deal will continue beyond its original deadline, as Scotland’s prime minister called for an extension of the transition period.
Negotiators Michel barnier and Lord frost met in Brussels on Sunday, the day the European Parliament said an agreement needed to be reached to ensure it could be signed before the end of the transition period on December 31.
But they failed to reach an agreement, with a government source describing the situation as “difficult” and key differences remained in fisheries and state aid for companies.
With the UK in crisis over a new strain of coronavirus and many EU countries closing their borders, the Prime Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, urged the prime minister to seek an extension of the Brexit transition period.
He said Britain was facing a “deeply serious situation” with the new mutation of COVID-19, which “demands our 100% attention”.
“It would be inconceivable to make it worse with Brexit,” he tweeted on Sunday night.
Prime Minister Boris johnson will have an emergency government Cobra committee meeting on Monday to try to prevent food shortages in the UK after France banned all shipments from the UK.
A number of EU countries, including Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria and Ireland, have restricted travel to the UK due to concerns about the new strain, which is believed to be up to 70% more transmittable.
The Port of Dover has been closed to all traffic, both cargo and passengers, amid France’s travel ban.
The EU’s chief negotiator, Mr Barnier, has said that trade talks on Brexit are at a “crucial moment”.
The British side has accused the EU of making “unreasonable demands” on fishing rights and competition rules.
The sources warned that there will be no agreement unless there is a “substantial change” in the EU’s position.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock told Sophy Ridge on Sunday: “We want these talks to come to a positive conclusion. I think everyone wants an agreement.
“Unfortunately, the EU has made some unreasonable demands. I’m sure a deal can be reached, but obviously a move is needed from the EU.”
Passengers queued to board the last Eurostar from London before France imposed a travel ban on the UK
Initially, the EU claimed that there should be an agreement before December 20 if EU leaders had time to ratify it before the year-end deadline.
If an agreement comes later, EU rules would allow leaders to provisionally sign it, but delay ratification until 2021.
But if there is no deal by New Year’s Eve, the UK will leave the single market and the customs union and have to trade with the EU on the terms of the World Trade Organization, which risks imposing tariffs and raise the price of goods.
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