BBC, London :
The UK and the EU have resumed talks on post-Brexit trade in London, with time running out to achieve a deal.
A senior UK government source said the prospects of a breakthrough were “receding” and accused Brussels of making new demands over business rules.
But a Brussels source denied this, with EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier calling Friday an “important day”.
Both sides have to agree and ratify any deal by 31 December, when the current rules on EU-UK trade end.
If they do not, they will do business on World Trade Organization rules, meaning the introduction of tariffs, or taxes on imports. The UK and EU negotiating teams are seeking compromises in key areas, including fishing rights and business competition rules, ahead of an EU summit scheduled for Thursday.
Rather than return to Brussels as planned on Friday, Mr Barnier is staying in London to continue discussions.
Business Secretary Alok Sharma confirmed to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme the talks were “in a difficult phase”. He added that the UK had “said all along” that it wanted the EU to recognise it as “a sovereign and independent nation” and it was “on the basis of that that a deal will be done”.
France’s Europe minister, Clement Beaune, said his government could “veto” any deal reached, if it did not satisfy his country’s demands, particularly on fishing rights – an area of contention between France and the UK.
“If there’s a deal that isn’t a good one, we’d oppose it,” he told Europe 1 radio.
Remember, the UK left the EU nearly a year after it was intended. So the fact it’s taking this long to reach a trade deal shouldn’t come as a shock.
But there really is pressure in the next few days to declare “deal or no deal”.
On Monday, the Internal Market Bill returns to the Commons. It would allow the UK to sidestep aspects of the agreement that was reached to leave the EU – and break international law in a “limited and specific way”.
Brussels has warned the government that this could scupper a trade deal.
That aside, any deal would have to be ready before EU leaders are invited to sign it off at a summit on Thursday.
It doesn’t augur well that the UK and EU are even disagreeing about their disagreements.
The government says Brussels has hardened its position on how competition rules are policed; the EU counters that it has made no new demands.
But it’s not surprising that both sides are crying “ouch” as the thorniest issues are now being grasped.
But while No 10 talks of “setbacks”, it hasn’t yet said negotiations have broken down. While discussions between both sides continue, the prospect of a deal is still possible.
The UK and the EU have resumed talks on post-Brexit trade in London, with time running out to achieve a deal.
A senior UK government source said the prospects of a breakthrough were “receding” and accused Brussels of making new demands over business rules.
But a Brussels source denied this, with EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier calling Friday an “important day”.
Both sides have to agree and ratify any deal by 31 December, when the current rules on EU-UK trade end.
If they do not, they will do business on World Trade Organization rules, meaning the introduction of tariffs, or taxes on imports. The UK and EU negotiating teams are seeking compromises in key areas, including fishing rights and business competition rules, ahead of an EU summit scheduled for Thursday.
Rather than return to Brussels as planned on Friday, Mr Barnier is staying in London to continue discussions.
Business Secretary Alok Sharma confirmed to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme the talks were “in a difficult phase”. He added that the UK had “said all along” that it wanted the EU to recognise it as “a sovereign and independent nation” and it was “on the basis of that that a deal will be done”.
France’s Europe minister, Clement Beaune, said his government could “veto” any deal reached, if it did not satisfy his country’s demands, particularly on fishing rights – an area of contention between France and the UK.
“If there’s a deal that isn’t a good one, we’d oppose it,” he told Europe 1 radio.
Remember, the UK left the EU nearly a year after it was intended. So the fact it’s taking this long to reach a trade deal shouldn’t come as a shock.
But there really is pressure in the next few days to declare “deal or no deal”.
On Monday, the Internal Market Bill returns to the Commons. It would allow the UK to sidestep aspects of the agreement that was reached to leave the EU – and break international law in a “limited and specific way”.
Brussels has warned the government that this could scupper a trade deal.
That aside, any deal would have to be ready before EU leaders are invited to sign it off at a summit on Thursday.
It doesn’t augur well that the UK and EU are even disagreeing about their disagreements.
The government says Brussels has hardened its position on how competition rules are policed; the EU counters that it has made no new demands.
But it’s not surprising that both sides are crying “ouch” as the thorniest issues are now being grasped.
But while No 10 talks of “setbacks”, it hasn’t yet said negotiations have broken down. While discussions between both sides continue, the prospect of a deal is still possible.
