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The EU has offered the UK a series of short-term mini-deals for planes, trucks and fishing boats, in case there is no full trade deal between the two parties before January 1.
The bloc made the proposals to the UK on Thursday with trade talks still stalled just three weeks before the end of the Brexit transition period on December 31.
The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, warned that, even if a trade agreement is reached between the United Kingdom and the EU in the next few days, “there is no guarantee” that it will be ratified in time for 1 of January.
It follows his dinner with Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday night, after which the couple agreed that trade talks should continue despite “significant differences” between the two sides.
Ms Von der Leyen on Thursday outlined four areas – air connectivity, aviation security, basic road connectivity and fishing – where short-term deals could be reached in the absence of a trade deal on New Year’s Day.
These would keep planes flying, trucks moving, and allow fishing boats to keep working in the event a deal is not reached.
“Negotiations are still ongoing,” said Ms Von der Leyen.
However, since the end of the transition is very near, there is no guarantee that, if an agreement is reached, it will come into force in time.
“Our responsibility is to be prepared for all eventualities, including the lack of an agreement with the UK on January 1, 2021.
“That is why we are presenting these measures today.”
The EU offer includes proposals for new regulations to “ensure the provision of certain air services between the UK and the EU” for six months, if the UK ensures the same.
In order to prevent the grounding of EU aircraft, the bloc also proposes a new law to ensure that “various product safety certificates can continue to be used on EU aircraft without interruption.”
In exchange for the UK guaranteeing the same to EU carriers, Brussels offers legislation covering “basic connectivity with regard to road freight and passenger transport” for six months.
And, for fisheries, the EU proposes a one-year legal framework for “continued reciprocal access of EU and UK vessels to each other’s waters” in 2021.
The bloc said that such a framework could end before December 31 next year, should a new fisheries deal with the United Kingdom be concluded before then.
