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In an interview, Foreign Minister Simon Coveney responded to claims that the European Union’s refusal to withdraw demands on access to Britain’s fishing grounds and common standards had sparked the dispute. But he insisted that an agreement was still possible despite disagreements on both sides over major sticking points. Mr Coveney said: “The British government was offered a much longer transition period and they turned it down, but now they are blaming the EU for it. That’s ridiculous.
“They were very clear that they did not want more time even though the EU was asking them to ask for it. The decision on timing is largely a decision of the British government, not the EU.
“I think it is possible to reach an agreement, but it is necessary to finalize it this week if possible because time is really running out.”
There is a growing expectation that a Brexit trade deal can be reached by the end of the week if Brussels agrees to commit to their hardline demands.
Downing Street insists that there is an agreement on the table that builds on the one the bloc agreed with Canada.
Coveney believes both parties will eventually reach an agreement because a no-deal Brexit will be “so costly and so disruptive.”
He added: “There is a great incentive to close a deal.”
But before a deal is struck, Coveney predicted more bitter exchanges between the UK and the EU.
He stated that both parties should avoid getting into a blame game in the final days of negotiations.
Coveney said: “The EU side has been respectful and consistent, but also firm throughout this negotiation, regardless of the people now trying to blame the EU for that consistency because the truth of Brexit is now being laid out in terms of the challenges of that.
“This is something that the UK and the EU together have to find a way to go rather than focus on a blame game as to who is to blame.”
Meanwhile, Dominic Raab has insisted that EU negotiators must backtrack on their demands before a deal can be reached.
The chancellor said: “If they show the pragmatism, goodwill and good faith that, to be fair, I think has surrounded the last stage of the talks, and we have certainly shown our flexibility, I think there is an agreement to be made.”
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Barnier was reported to have recently said last week that Brussels could accept a 15-18 percent reduction in its share of fishing rights in UK waters, but British officials were said to have rejected the offer.
A government source said: “These figures are laughable, and the EU knows very well that we would never accept it.”
“There appears to be a failure of the Commission to internalize the scale of change needed as we become an independent nation.”
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