The European Union and the United Kingdom have failed to make any progress during this week’s Brexit negotiations, both sides said on Friday. In this way, it seems to be getting one step closer to the dreaded no-deal scenario.
“No significant progress has been made this week. We cannot continue like this,” said EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier at a news conference on Friday.
The UK came out on Friday with a similar message. “Progress remains limited, but our conversations have been positive,” said British negotiator David Frost.
The EU has proposed to schedule an additional round of negotiations at the end of June. It is not yet known whether the United Kingdom will respond to this.
Before July 1, the British have to decide whether they want to extend the transition period beyond December and thus stick to European rules for longer. The Johnson government has said time and again that it does not want to extend the transition period and that it wants to have Brexit completely complete from 2021 onwards.
Both sides blame each other for stalled negotiations
The absolute deadline for a Brexit deal is scheduled for October 31, but as long as negotiations are stuck, that deadline doesn’t seem to be met.
The EU and the UK are still miles apart on many fronts, such as fisheries and competition. Barnier blames the British for wanting the pleasures of the EU but not the burdens. Across the Channel, Frost thinks that Brussels is immobile.
British Prime Minister Johnson, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU President Charles Michel are expected to hold discussions this month to try to bring their views closer together. But if that doesn’t work, a hard Brexit without a deal seems inevitable.
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