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The turbulent Brexit trade and security talks have been suspended at the highest level and Michel Barnier has self-isolated after a member of the EU negotiating team tested positive for coronavirus.
The bloc’s top negotiator tweeted that he had agreed with his British counterpart, David Frost, that the core teams would have to pause their face-to-face talks in Brussels.
The hiatus risks derailing an already set deadline for a successful outcome of talks that were already severely stalled in March when both Barnier and Frost contracted the virus.
Despite difficult discussions on the most contentious issues, the two sides had tried to reach an agreement next week to give the European Parliament time to ratify any possible agreement, with a possible emergency session on December 28.
Under Belgian law, those who test positive must remain in quarantine for seven days, while those who have been in contact with an infected person must remain in isolation for ten days.
Barnier tweeted: “One of my team negotiators tested positive for Covid-19. With David Frost we have decided to suspend negotiations at our level for a short period. The teams will continue their work in full compliance with the guidelines. “
It is understood that Barnier still intends to brief the EU ambassadors via video conference Friday morning on the latest twists and turns in the trade and security talks.
Shortly after Barnier’s announcement, Frost also issued a short statement. He tweeted: “I am in close contact with Michel Barnier about the situation. The health of our teams comes first. I would like to thank the European Commission for their immediate help and support ”.
The negotiation is on a razor’s edge, with some member states privately calling on the European Commission to speed up no-deal preparations in the coming days to prepare companies for the worst.
It is understood that the two sides are examining the broader implications for the development of conversations with the issue complicated by different quarantine rules in the UK and Belgium.
Under UK regulations, those who have been in contact with someone who has tested positive must be quarantined for 14 days, four days longer than under Belgian law.
It remains to be seen to what extent this will affect the UK and EU teams that have been locked in talks in Brussels since Monday. There are 50 UK officials in the Belgian capital. All face-to-face meetings have been suspended and only online discussions continue.
In six weeks, the UK’s transition period will end, leaving the single market and the EU customs union.
MEPs had hoped to have already started their scrutiny of the treaty to vote on the deal on December 16, but that goal now seems increasingly difficult to meet.
A UK government spokesperson said: “The commission has informed us that an official from their delegation has tested positive for Covid-19.
“We are discussing with them the implications for the negotiations. We have been and will continue to act in accordance with public health guidelines and to guarantee the health and well-being of our teams ”.
