The UK and the EU are continuing to negotiate a Brexit trade pact at high pressure. The talks remain difficult, as was heard from negotiating circles late on Saturday evening. “The most likely result” is currently a no deal, it said. “We’ll turn every stone to get a deal off the ground.” But there are still “significant open questions” about fishing and subsidies. “Negotiations continue, but we are still far apart.”
The EU Parliament does not want to wait any longer
The pressure is great because the European Parliament has set a final deadline of Sunday evening. By then, a completed commercial contract must be available, because otherwise the MPs would not have enough time to examine. EU negotiator Michel Barnier warned that there were only “a few hours” left for an agreement. However, the negotiators had previously broken several deadlines. Most recently it was said, especially in London, that the only deadline was December 31st.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has repeatedly expressed skepticism as to whether the two sides will still reach an agreement. Observers of the tough negotiations reported on Twitter that the EU could take a step on London on the contentious issue of fisheries. Barnier is said to have offered that the Community would repay the British 25 percent of the value of the fish EU fishermen catch in British waters. That would be significantly more than has been discussed so far – but not nearly as much as London is demanding. A European fishermen’s association warned that the EU should not deceive the industry.
Will there be tariffs again?
Both sides are also preparing for the eventuality that the negotiations fail and tariffs and other trade barriers between the UK and the EU come into force on January 1, 2021. Then a transition phase ends. Great Britain already left the EU at the end of January, but will not leave the EU internal market and the customs union until the end of the year.
Soon standard: trucks jam in front of the Eurotunnel
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The British government is badly prepared, however, criticizes the Brexit Committee of Parliament in London. Decisions were made “too late” and communication with companies was “at best patchy”, according to a report published in London. The police could be forced to use “slower and more cumbersome” systems – so it was “unlikely” that an agreement replacing the European arrest warrant would be in place in time.
Emergency plan is already in the drawer
On Friday the European Parliament voted for emergency measures in the event of a no-deal Brexit. This involves plans for the areas of fishing, air safety, and air and road traffic. The British industry association CBI urged both sides to come to an agreement. An agreement would greatly improve the economic prospects across Europe. “Courageous steps” are necessary.
On the highways in the direction of the important port of Dover on the English Channel as well as the Eurotunnel, trucks are jammed for kilometers again. The reasons are the Christmas business and the high demand for medical goods in the corona pandemic, but also the increase in many stocks before the end of the Brexit transition phase. Trade associations have been criticizing clogged ports and high freight prices for weeks. Ships have already been turned away in some ports because there was no space to unload cargo.
haz / rb (dpa, afp, rtr)
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