The latest round of trade talks between the European Union and the United Kingdom ended with no breakthrough on Friday. Both the parties stuck to their long-held positions and called for the talks to be ramped up. Michel Barnier, the EU chief negotiator, could report no significant progress on talks this week, accusing the UK of backtracking on divorce terms agreed last year.
While talking to the reporters, Barnier said that the situation cannot go forever and added that hundreds of officials participated in the virtual task on forging future UK-EU trade ties. The former French minister also said that the talks must be finalized before October 31, to be ratified by the end of 2020. This is when London will leave Europe’s single union market and customs union with or without a deal.
David Frost, Barnier’s counterpart, noted limited advancement and urged both sides to accelerate the work to clinch a deal.
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However, Barnier accused the British delegation of backtracking on the commitments already made when PM Boris Johnson signed a declaration with EU members last year. He added that this declaration, which was annexed to be Brexit withdrawal agreement, signed by all parties and could be the only reference to trade talks.
AFP reported that the British are no longer pretending to negotiate on key issues like a level-playing field for businesses, fishing rights, and an overreaching framework for the accord. Later this month, EU chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson are expected to meet for the talks at an unspecified date.
The meeting was decided in the Brexit withdrawal agreement, which will not include key European leaders, including Germany’s Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, who will be decisive to any breakthrough.
However, political experts did not expect much from the recent round of talks, many in Brussels believe that any breakthrough is not possible before Autumn. The high-level meeting will be the last chance for London to ask for an extension to the negotiations beyond the end of 2020 when the transition period that keeps the UK aligned to European Union rules comes to an end.
PM Johnson has categorically ruled out an extension in the transition period. Many on the EU side fear Johnson, who recently got elected over his plans to deliver a hardline Brexit and may not be serious about striking a trade deal, despite the consequences to the economy.
Since the talks began in March, the highlight has remained the same. Brussels and London disagree on the terms of fair competition under the terms of a trade deal and the fishing rights of the EU in British waters. France, along with other coastal states, is planning to maintain as much access to the British coastline.
The coronavirus outbreak has made the talks a lower priority in the EU. On Friday, Amelie de Montchalin, French European Affairs Minister, said that it is necessary to prepare if the negotiations fail.
