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The UK formally left the European Union in January and negotiations are still ongoing despite the end of the transition period on December 31 drawing near. There are still problems related to fisheries, governance and the so-called level playing field.
This week MEPs approved a deadline stating that EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier must present the trade deal to them by December 21., But this did not happen.
Earlier, German MEP Bernd Lange warned that a no-deal Brexit period is likely on the horizon without a deal being signed by the end of Sunday night.
He tweeted: “The consequence of no agreement tonight is obvious: the EP does not know the consolidated text, it is 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.”
The BBC’s editor for Europe, Katya Adler, retweeted Lange’s tweet, adding that a no-deal period now could be “inevitable.”
Ms Adler tweeted: “The influential MEP warns that a no-deal period is inevitable on 1 January if no agreement is reached today because the European Parliament was unable to examine the text in time.
“But EU law says that ratification by the EU Parliament is not mandatory.
“The agreement, if agreed, could be applied provisionally.”
READ MORE: Brexit preview: Barnier admits UK needs to ‘control its own waters’
The EU’s chief negotiator for Brexit, Michel Barnier, also said the bloc remains “committed” to a “fair, reciprocal and balanced” deal.
He tweeted: “At this crucial time for the negotiations, we continue to work hard with @DavidGHFrost and his team.
“The EU remains committed to a fair, reciprocal and balanced agreement.
“We respect the sovereignty of the UK. 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.”
The negotiations are led by the EU Commission, but some diplomats have warned that the December 21 deadline can be ignored in the search for a deal.
National governments could apply the agreement on an interim basis before MEPs ratify it next year.
The EU signed the Global Trade and Economic Agreement (CETA) with Canada in 2017.
The United Kingdom has also expressed its own desire to continue the negotiations for as long as possible.
But Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “We hope our friends in the EU make sense and come to the table with something themselves.
“If that doesn’t happen, then on January 1 we will be operating under the terms of the WTO.”
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