It’s up to you: It is still unclear whether a trade pact between the EU and Great Britain will succeed. Both sides are not giving up yet: negotiations will take place again on Sunday.
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The planned Brexit trade pact between the European Union and Great Britain hangs by a thread. Almost four weeks before the end of the Brexit transition phase, decisive differences still remain, as EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced after a phone call. The negotiations of the chief negotiators in Brussels are to continue on Sunday – probably the last attempt. Von der Leyen and Johnson want to take stock on Monday evening.
The chief negotiators Michel Barnier and David Frost had interrupted their talks on Friday evening and said that the conditions for an agreement had not been met. As a result, von der Leyen and Johnson joined forces on Saturday afternoon at executive level. Even after that, however, no movement was discernible in terms of content.
Both had recognized progress on many points, it said in a statement. Nonetheless, there remained “significant differences” on three key issues: a level playing field, fisheries and the tools to deal with violations of the proposed agreement.
“Both sides underlined that no agreement will be possible without these points being resolved,” it said. The differences are serious. But negotiations will take place again on Sunday in Brussels. EU negotiator Barnier wrote on Twitter: “We will see if there is a way forward.”
After leaving the EU in January, Great Britain will also leave the internal market and the customs union at the end of the year. Then there is an economic break. Without a trade pact, there will be tariffs and high trade barriers between Great Britain and the EU from January. The economy on both sides fears upheavals – and that in the middle of the Corona crisis. Since an agreement has yet to be ratified, there are only a few days left for an agreement.
Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin welcomed the announced continuation of the negotiations. “An agreement is in everyone’s interest,” wrote Martin on Twitter. “Every effort should be made to reach a deal.” EU member Ireland is particularly affected by Brexit. The EU wants to avoid a hard border with the British province of Northern Ireland, as this could provoke new political tension and violence.
The SPD Brexit expert in the European Parliament, Bernd Lange, had already said to the German press agency before Johnson’s phone call with von der Leyen: “It’s all about the button.” The British side fundamentally rejects instruments to enforce equal competitive conditions.
The competitive conditions – the keyword is level playing field – are, among other things, about environmental, social and aid standards. Great Britain would like to have as few guidelines as possible from the EU – for Johnson this is a question of sovereignty. However, the EU wants to prevent competitive advantages for British companies through regular dumping, especially since the desired trade agreement would allow British goods to enter the EU market unpaid and without quantity restrictions.
The second major issue, fisheries, is the amount that EU fishermen are allowed to catch in British waters. Quotas and a clause to review the regulation after a certain period (revision clause) are under discussion, said Lange.
The topic is of great political importance, especially for France. French President Emmanuel Macron once again insisted this week on French fishermen’s access to British waters. He said he would only agree to a contract if the long-term interests of his country were safeguarded. This was understood as a threat of veto.
Another major obstacle in the negotiations is the planned British Internal Market Act, which would undermine parts of the EU withdrawal treaty that is already in force. The British government announced that it would reintroduce the controversial clauses into the bill on Monday. They had previously been removed from the House of Lords. The EU is outraged by the planned breach of contract. It was initially unclear whether London wanted to hold on to it. (dpa)
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