From the point of view of the European Union, the planned Brexit trade pact with Great Britain is on a knife edge. There are weighty discrepancies on the subject of fair competition, it was said from EU circles in Brussels today. The British stance seriously questions the functioning of the internal market.
The chief negotiators had interrupted their negotiations yesterday evening and stated that the conditions for an agreement had not been met. In a phone call planned for the early evening between EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the aim was to analyze how the talks could be restarted. Real negotiations between the two or offers from the EU are not to be expected.
After the stalled Brexit talks were interrupted, EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier remains willing to reach a trade agreement with Great Britain. “We will remain calm as always,” he said today in London to British broadcasters. Barnier did not comment on the chances of an agreement.
Great Britain does not want any guidelines
The SPD Brexit expert in the European Parliament, Bernd Lange, told the dpa: “It’s all about the button.” The British side fundamentally rejects instruments to enforce a level playing field. But there could be no agreement at any price.
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. The EU, on the other hand, would like to prevent competitive advantages for British companies through excessive subsidies, social, environmental or regular dumping. Because the desired trade agreement would allow British goods to enter the EU market, duty unpaid and without quantity restrictions.
More chances of agreement in fisheries
On the other hand, Brexit expert Lange sees opportunities for agreement on the second important issue of fisheries. The issue is the access of EU fishermen to UK waters and the amount of fish they can catch there. Quotas and a clause to review the regulation after a certain period (revision clause) are under discussion, said Lange.
The planned British Single Market Act, which would undermine parts of the already valid EU exit treaty, continues to be a major obstacle in the negotiations. If this were brought back to the British House of Commons with the controversial clauses on Monday as planned, a continuation of the talks would be politically almost impossible, said Lange.
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