The EU ‘leans’ on Michel Barnier to advance Brexit trade negotiations

Ursula von der Leyen has started to “ lean on ” Michel Barnier to strike a post-Brexit trade deal with the UK amid growing hopes that a draft deal could be ready by the weekend.

Barnier, the EU’s top negotiator, is locked in talks with his British counterpart Lord Frost, but formal discussions remain deadlocked on a handful of crucial issues.

However, Ms Von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, is said to be pressuring Mr Barnier to find a way to overcome the deadlock.

UK sources said Ms Von der Leyen is now being “quite helpful” and is “willing to unlock things”.

However, despite the increased activity by the EU, Number 10 warned that the chances of the two sides splitting without a deal next month may be “undervalued.”

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, has begun to ‘lean on’ Michel Barnier to reach a trade agreement with the United Kingdom.

Barnier arrived in London on Friday to resume face-to-face talks with his British counterpart Lord Frost.

The post-Brexit ‘status quo’ transition period will end in December, but the path to a trade deal remains blocked by three key issues: fishing rights, the so-called ‘level playing field’ on rules and future governance. of the agreement.

Face-to-face talks between Barnier and Lord Frost resumed yesterday after they had to be suspended after a member of the EU team tested positive for coronavirus.

The latest round of talks has been announced as potentially the final set of discussions as the clock ticks to the end of the transition period.

Barnier’s negotiating mandate is set by EU leaders, but the Sunday Times reported that Ms Von der Leyen has begun to “lean” on him to make progress and reach an agreement.

A senior British official told the newspaper: ‘Von der Leyen has been very helpful.

‘She is eager to unlock things. Your team has been more involved lately, which is helpful.

“On the level playing field and state aid we are not there yet, but we can see how we get there. The problem is the fish.

In a sign of the European Commission’s growing involvement in the talks, von der Leyen sent Stephanie Riso, one of its highest officials, to help Barnier.

Ms. Riso participated in the original Brexit divorce negotiations and is seen as someone who could help break the deadlock.

Boris Johnson is believed to be able to speak with Ms Von der Leyen in the next 48 hours to try to chart a way forward on fishing rights, possibly the biggest remaining point of contention.

You can also speak to French President Emmanuel Macron, who is convinced that the EU must maintain its tough stance on the issue.

Both sides now believe that if an agreement is possible, it will have come to light by the end of this week.

But Number 10 warned that there is still a “significant gap” in fisheries and that “no agreement is priced below normal.”

Reports last week suggested that Barnier recently said the EU could accept a 15-18 percent cut in its share of fishing rights in UK waters, but British officials immediately rejected the offer.

Boris Johnson is expected to speak with Ms Von der Leyen in the next 48 hours as the two sides try to facilitate a breakthrough.

A government source said: “These figures are laughable, and the EU knows very well that we would never accept it.

“It appears that the Commission has failed to internalize the scale of change needed as we become an independent nation.”

The government has repeatedly said that it is willing to leave the transition period without an agreement if the EU does not move.

A UK source close to the negotiations said: ‘Over the next few days we will continue to negotiate with creativity and intensity.

“We hope that the EU will come up with a new thought because what we have seen so far is not enough. They must understand that we are not going to sell our sovereignty ”.