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The Brexit negotiations have reached their most difficult stage, and Brussels is still unsure whether a deal with Boris Johnson is possible in the crucial next two weeks, said European Council President Charles Michel.
The former prime minister of Belgium, who heads the summit of EU leaders, said in an interview with The Guardian that the outcome was still at stake with what he suggested would be two more weeks of talks to come.
EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier is expected to remain with his team in Westminster until Thursday, after which contentious negotiations will resume in the Belgian capital.
Both sides seek to minimize outside comment on the negotiation as a sign that the talks have indeed entered a phase called “tunnel” or “submarine”, where negotiators seek to clarify final details far from the glare. of the media and national political actors.
But Michel said Barnier continued to maintain an intelligence flow to member states, in preparation for an agreement to be reached and ratified. He admitted that it was still too early to say whether there would be a satisfactory outcome of the final decisive phase.
“In my opinion it is very clear that it is necessary to work seriously, [which is] what we are trying to do, with full confidence for Michel Barnier and his team, and we will assess in the coming days or weeks, when we consider that it is time to assess, what is the outcome of the ongoing conversations. “Michel said.
“We all know that in all negotiations, the last and last decisions are the most difficult. Will we get a deal? I don’t know, it will depend on what is on the table. But we are working to make sure that all member states are well informed, participate in the process to make sure there is trust, which is key to being able to decide ”.
Pending issues in trade and security talks remain the level of access to British waters provided to foreign fishing fleets, the rules of fair competition for companies, including rules on domestic subsidies, and the mechanisms in the final treaty. to resolve future disputes.
“It’s not a surprise. You know what the most difficult issues are and we are working to try to find solutions to the most difficult issues, ”said Michel. “It is not possible for me to evaluate what will happen in the next few days or in the next two weeks.”
EU sources have suggested that mid-November is now the absolute deadline for a deal in order to allow time for parliamentary ratification on both sides of the Channel.
Michel spoke to a group of European newspapers ahead of a videoconference meeting of EU leaders on Thursday, where the 27 heads of state and government will seek to further coordinate their efforts to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.
Michel said that there must be a unified approach to both the use of rapid test kits and the launch of a vaccine. He said he expected at least one of the vaccines currently being tested to be available by the end of the year, although there is no certainty.
“We need to tell the truth,” Michel said. “The current situation in Europe is serious and bad. That is why we have to act and it is urgent… I remember that before the summer we thought there was a risk, without certainty, that we would face the second wave after the summer. And now there is surely a second wave, [a] strong second wave. “
