PM to hold last-minute Brexit talks with EU’s von der Leyen
Prime Minister Boris Johnson will hold discussions with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen by phone tomorrow as the UK and EU try to strike a last-minute Brexit trade agreement.
The latest and last round of scheduled talks between the two sides ended today. A deal remains a way off, with tensions still running high over the UK’s decision to go back on parts of the Brexit deal struck last year.
The UK left the EU in January but is currently in a transition period that ends in December. Both sides have until the end of this year to strike a free-trade agreement that will avoid the UK crashing out on to World Trade Organization terms.
Coronavirus and the short-time frame had already made negotiations difficult. But tensions have risen dramatically in recent weeks after the UK announced it would renege on parts of the previously agreed Brexit deal that related to Northern Ireland.
The EU only yesterday launched legal proceedings against the UK, Officials from both sides have expressed concerns that the move makes a no-deal outcome more likely.
However, the planned conversation between Johnson and von der Leyen indicates that both sides remain keen to reach a deal. It would be their first conversation since June.
The PM will “take stock of negotiations and discuss next steps” with Von der Leyen, a Downing Street spokesperson said.
Withdrawal agreement row continues
There have been some signs of progress, with the UK giving some ground on fishing rights, for example. However, talks remain deadlocked in some areas such as over state aid.
Talks are expected to continue over the next two weeks, according to reports, although they are yet to be officially scheduled. EU leaders meet for a key summit on 15-16 October.
Yet the UK’s internal markets bill which overrides parts of the withdrawal agreement remains a major area of concern.
However, following the talks concluding this evening , chief UK negotiator Lord David Frost said the two sides still had a way to go on fishing rules post-Brexit, although progress had been made on a law enforcement agreement.
Despite some positive signs, Frost said: “In other areas familiar differences remain. On the level playing field, including subsidy policy, we continue to seek an agreement that ensures our ability to set our own laws in the UK without constraints that go beyond those appropriate to a free trade agreement.
“There has been some limited progress here but the EU need to move further before an understanding can be reached. On fisheries the gap between us is unfortunately very large and, without further realism and flexibility from the EU, risks being impossible to bridge.
Frost added: “These issues are fundamental to our future status as an independent country.
“I am concerned that there is very little time now to resolve these issues ahead of the European Council on 15 October. For our part, we continue to be fully committed to working hard to find solutions, if they are there to be found.”