Great Britain and the EU are heading for a severe break in trade relations towards the end of the year. The EU Commission is now proposing emergency measures. If no more trade agreements are concluded, these are intended to alleviate “some of the major disruptions” in air and road traffic, for example.
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The EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen announced on Twitter. “The negotiations are still ongoing, but the end of the transition period is near,” she wrote.
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Accordingly, four emergency regulations are planned:
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In the dispute over fishing, a legal framework is intended to guarantee access for British and European fishermen to the other waters until a corresponding contract is concluded, but no later than the end of 2021. In addition, the authorization of fishing cutters is to be simplified.
According to the communication, the EU Commission intends to work closely with the European Parliament and the Council of the EU to enable the relevant regulations to come into force by January 1, 2021. It is now “more important than ever” to be ready for the turn of the year, the statement continues. There will be disruptions, with or without a trade agreement.
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Several EU states had repeatedly urged the Commission to take these emergency measures forward. The Commission delayed this. Now she justified the move with the great uncertainty whether a trade agreement will be in force by January 1st that would make these measures unnecessary.
The decision on trade agreements should be made by Sunday evening
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and EU Commission President von der Leyen spoke for around three hours in Brussels on Wednesday evening. Afterwards it was said that the positions remained far apart. A decision should be made by Sunday evening at the latest, von der Leyen tweeted.
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In Brussels, the British negotiator David Frost and his EU colleague Michel Barnier should continue the negotiations. The central sticking points are still fishing, fair competition and the question of how the agreements are legally enforced in the event of a dispute.
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